John Rea (composer)
Encyclopedia
John Rea is a Montreal
-based composer
who notably won the Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music
in both 1981 and 1992. He obtained his Bachelors degree at Wayne State University
(1967), his Master of Music degree at the University of Toronto (1969), and his PhD at Princeton University
. His children's opera The Prisoners Play from 1972 uses serial techniques. His works have been played by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, the Nouvelle Ensemble Moderne, the Arditti Quartet, the Esprit Orchestra and others. He is the previous dean and head of the composition
department at the Schulich School of Music
of McGill University
, where he continues to teach composition. Among his notable students are composers Robin Minard
and John Oliver
.
The Days/Les Jours, ballet. 1969. Ms
The Prisoners Play, opera (Paul Woodruff). 1973. Ms
Com-possession 'Daemonic afterimages in the theatre of transitory states.' 1980. 2 chamber ensemble (tape). Ms. McGill University Records 83019 (Laucke)
Une Fleur du mal. 1992. Sop, clarinet, violoncello and percussion
Canto di Beatrice. 1992. For two sop and two violoncelli, melodrama
Alma & Oskar (melodrama from beyond the grave). 1995. Voice and piano, National Competition for Young Performers of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; version for two voices and orchestra, 1996
Urfaust—tragédie subjective (after Goethe and Pessoa). 1999. Incidental music, Théâtre UBU
Sacrée Landowska. 2001. Music theatre
Orchestra:
Piece for Chamber Orchestra (1967, rev 1971). Ms
Hommage à Vasarely. 1977. Ms. RCI 658/McGill University Records 81013 (McGill SO, Mayer conductor)
Vanishing Points. 1983. Ms
Litaneia (Aristophanes). 1984. Mixed chorus, orch. Ms
Over Time. 1987. Ms. Centrediscs CMC-CD-3188 (Orch métropolitain)
Time and Again. 1987. Ms
Zefiro torna. 1994
Einer nach dem Andern!. 1994. Chamber orchestra
Homme/Papillon. 2002
Chamber:
Sonatina. 1965. Fl, piano. Ms
Prologue, Scene and Movement (classical Latin palindrome). 1968. Sop, viola, 2 piano. Ms
Sestina. 1968. Chamb ensemble. Ms
Fantaisies and/et Allusions. 1969. Saxophone quartet, snare drum. Ms
Anaphora. 1970. Chamb ensemble. Ms
Reception and Offering Music 'Anaphora IV.' 1975. Ww quintet, percussion. Ms. Mel SMLP-4040 (York Winds)
Jeux de Scène 'fantaisie-hommage à Richard Wagner.' 1976. Hn, oboe, violoncello, piccolo, fl, piano, mar, 3 glockenspiel, blacksmith's anvil. Ms
Les Blues d'Orphée. 1981. Fl, clarinet, viola, violoncello, piano. Ms
Le Dernière Sirène. 1981. Ondes M, piano, percussion. Ms
Médiator '...pincer la musique aujourd'hui..'. 1981. Chamb ensemble. Ms. RCI 570 (Événements du neuf, Rea conductor)
Treppenmusik. 1982. Saxophone quartet, 4 clarinet, violin, viola, violoncello, double-bass, tape. Ms. Centrediscs CMC-2085 (SMCQ)
Glide Reflexions. 1984. 2 clarinet, 2 violoncello. Ms
Les Raisons des Forces Mouvantes. 1984. Fl, alto fl, string quartet. Ms
Spin. 1984. Str quartet, piano. Ms
Some Time Later. 1986. RAAD string quartet. Ms
Big Apple Jam. 1987-91. Saxophone quartet, tape. Ms
Kubla Khan. 1989. Chamb ensemble. Ms. (1991). University of Montreal UNMUS-105 (CD) (Nouvel ensemble moderne)
Objets Perdus. 1992. String quartet
Piano:
What You Will. 1969. 2 or 4 hands. Jay 1971
Anaphora II. 1971 (rev 1972). Ms
Las Meninas. 1990-1. Ms
Also Le Petit Livre des 'Ravalet' (1983) for early music instr, tape, and 4 narrator, and Offenes Lied (1986) for 2 soprano and clarinet, both manuscript; and 2 works for tape, S.P.I. 51 and STER 1.3 (both 1969), recorded on Marathon MS-2211
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
-based composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
who notably won the Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music
Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music
The Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music is a Canadian contemporary classical music award given to composers in recognition of quality new works of chamber music. Granted annually since 1978 , the prize is won through a competition administered by the Canadian Music Centre...
in both 1981 and 1992. He obtained his Bachelors degree at Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
(1967), his Master of Music degree at the University of Toronto (1969), and his PhD at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. His children's opera The Prisoners Play from 1972 uses serial techniques. His works have been played by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts as its home.-History:...
, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, the Nouvelle Ensemble Moderne, the Arditti Quartet, the Esprit Orchestra and others. He is the previous dean and head of the composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
department at the Schulich School of Music
Schulich School of Music
The Schulich School of Music is one of the constituent faculties of McGill University in Montréal, Canada. The faculty was named after benefactor Seymour Schulich.-History:Music at McGill – The Beginning...
of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, where he continues to teach composition. Among his notable students are composers Robin Minard
Robin Minard
- Biography :Minard was born in Montreal, Canada. He began his studies of composition at the University of Ontario, then at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, studying under Gilles Tremblay. He then continued his studies with John Rea at McGill University. He was a member of the...
and John Oliver
John Oliver (composer)
John Oliver is a Canadian composer, guitarist, and conductor. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian Electroacoustic Community, his music has been performed throughout North America and Europe...
.
Music
Stage:The Days/Les Jours, ballet. 1969. Ms
The Prisoners Play, opera (Paul Woodruff). 1973. Ms
Com-possession 'Daemonic afterimages in the theatre of transitory states.' 1980. 2 chamber ensemble (tape). Ms. McGill University Records 83019 (Laucke)
Une Fleur du mal. 1992. Sop, clarinet, violoncello and percussion
Canto di Beatrice. 1992. For two sop and two violoncelli, melodrama
Alma & Oskar (melodrama from beyond the grave). 1995. Voice and piano, National Competition for Young Performers of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; version for two voices and orchestra, 1996
Urfaust—tragédie subjective (after Goethe and Pessoa). 1999. Incidental music, Théâtre UBU
Sacrée Landowska. 2001. Music theatre
Orchestra:
Piece for Chamber Orchestra (1967, rev 1971). Ms
Hommage à Vasarely. 1977. Ms. RCI 658/McGill University Records 81013 (McGill SO, Mayer conductor)
Vanishing Points. 1983. Ms
Litaneia (Aristophanes). 1984. Mixed chorus, orch. Ms
Over Time. 1987. Ms. Centrediscs CMC-CD-3188 (Orch métropolitain)
Time and Again. 1987. Ms
Zefiro torna. 1994
Einer nach dem Andern!. 1994. Chamber orchestra
Homme/Papillon. 2002
Chamber:
Sonatina. 1965. Fl, piano. Ms
Prologue, Scene and Movement (classical Latin palindrome). 1968. Sop, viola, 2 piano. Ms
Sestina. 1968. Chamb ensemble. Ms
Fantaisies and/et Allusions. 1969. Saxophone quartet, snare drum. Ms
Anaphora. 1970. Chamb ensemble. Ms
Reception and Offering Music 'Anaphora IV.' 1975. Ww quintet, percussion. Ms. Mel SMLP-4040 (York Winds)
Jeux de Scène 'fantaisie-hommage à Richard Wagner.' 1976. Hn, oboe, violoncello, piccolo, fl, piano, mar, 3 glockenspiel, blacksmith's anvil. Ms
Les Blues d'Orphée. 1981. Fl, clarinet, viola, violoncello, piano. Ms
Le Dernière Sirène. 1981. Ondes M, piano, percussion. Ms
Médiator '...pincer la musique aujourd'hui..'. 1981. Chamb ensemble. Ms. RCI 570 (Événements du neuf, Rea conductor)
Treppenmusik. 1982. Saxophone quartet, 4 clarinet, violin, viola, violoncello, double-bass, tape. Ms. Centrediscs CMC-2085 (SMCQ)
Glide Reflexions. 1984. 2 clarinet, 2 violoncello. Ms
Les Raisons des Forces Mouvantes. 1984. Fl, alto fl, string quartet. Ms
Spin. 1984. Str quartet, piano. Ms
Some Time Later. 1986. RAAD string quartet. Ms
Big Apple Jam. 1987-91. Saxophone quartet, tape. Ms
Kubla Khan. 1989. Chamb ensemble. Ms. (1991). University of Montreal UNMUS-105 (CD) (Nouvel ensemble moderne)
Objets Perdus. 1992. String quartet
Piano:
What You Will. 1969. 2 or 4 hands. Jay 1971
Anaphora II. 1971 (rev 1972). Ms
Las Meninas. 1990-1. Ms
Also Le Petit Livre des 'Ravalet' (1983) for early music instr, tape, and 4 narrator, and Offenes Lied (1986) for 2 soprano and clarinet, both manuscript; and 2 works for tape, S.P.I. 51 and STER 1.3 (both 1969), recorded on Marathon MS-2211
Further reading
- Steenhuisen, Paul. "Interview with John Rea". In Sonic Mosaics: Conversations with Composers. Edmonton: University of Alberta Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0888644749