SUSTENANCE
A Program of Premières
Elation Pauls Violin, Serouj Kradjian Piano
With Guests David Braid Piano, Karen Sunabacka Narration

Jan 10, 2024 – 7:30pm
Chalmers House
20 St. Joseph St.
Toronto, ON

~~~~~~~~~~

About the program:

What sustains you? Us? Our planet? What happens when sustenance is absent? From the energy and joy that the interactive elements of play and dance ignite to themes of internal sustenance provided by the divine and more tangible elements of food and water, this program of premieres explores personal and collective sources.

SUSTENANCE marks a new life chapter born out of the days of isolation and silence of 2020. With the drastic and sudden all-encompassing change experienced, I was forced to spend much introspective time. Becoming disconsolate with the (lack of) societal contribution I was making as a violinist, I became invested in exploring new avenues for connection. With the encouragement of some close friends and colleagues, I imagined a program of 21st century Canadian music for violin and piano based on the theme of sustenance, with the intention to commission pieces from some of my favourite composers. In spring of 2023 I was awarded a Create and Explore grant from the Canada Council for the Arts and it is a great honour and privilege to work with the composers and pianists being presented today.
~ Elation
~~~~~~~~~~

Program:

• Serouj Kradjian (b. 1973) Sari Aghtchig (Girl from the Mountain)
  for Violin and Piano (2023) *World Premiere
  For Elation Pauls, commissioned with support from the Canada Council for the Arts.
• Carmen Braden (b. 1985) Foxy Fox’s Musical Games for Violin and Piano (2018)
  Commissioned by the 2018 Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition. Dedicated to the Little One.
• Cris Derksen (b. 1981) Country Food for Violin and Tape (2023) *World Premiere
  Commissioned by Elation Pauls with support from the Canada Council for the Arts.
• Kelly-Marie Murphy (b. 1964) FIRE-AND-ICE-BODIED-DOUBLED-UP-WITHDRAWAL-ANXIETY (2023)
  for Violin and Piano *World Premiere
  I. Mellifluous, heart-rending
  II. Agitated and possessed
  Commissioned by Elation Pauls with support from the Canada Council for the Arts.

~ Intermission ~

• David Braid (b. 1975) Interior Castles for Violin and Piano (2005)
• David Braid – Three Songs for Violin and Piano (2023) *World Premiere
  David Braid, Piano
• Serouj Kradjian (b. 1973) Tango Melancolico for Violin and Piano (2011)
• Karen Sunabacka (b. 1975) Jack the Fiddler for Violin, Piano and Narrator (2023) *Ontario Premiere
  Text by Joyce Clouston in collaboration with Karen Sunabacka. Karen Sunabacka, Narrator
  Dedicated to Elation Pauls and all my Métis relations who loved my grandfather Jack. Comissioned by
  and written for Elation Pauls with the generous support of SOCAN, the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA),
  Manitoba Arts Council (MAC) and the Academic Development and Research Fund (ADRF) at Conrad
  Grebel University College.
• Iman Habibi (b. 1985) Offering of Water for Violin and Piano (2023) *Canadian Premiere
  Dedicated to Lucia Lin. Co-comissioned by: Lucia Lin, Elation Pauls and the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative
  Academy of Music with partial funding support from the Canada Council for the Arts.
  1. of life
  2. yasna
  3. purify
  4. it shall flow if from tears
  5. to life