I've know a few Canadians down here as well, in fact one of my best friends is Canadian, although she doesn't live in Australia anymore. You know, I can reverse what you say, I am fairly ignorant of Canadian composers. I just happened to go to a string quartet concert a few months back, where they played a piece by Pierre Jalbert. He's Canadian, right? Anyway, the piece, called 'The Ice Sonnets' was pretty riveting stuff. That's the only Canadian classical I have heard so far, it doesn't seem to get much exposure around here...
Yeah, I seem to recall seeing a CD of Ginastera's 3 piano concertos on Naxos a while back. I'll probably order it. I'm also going to get his SQ's at some stage. I've been enjoying that Naxos CD of Elliot Carter's SQ's 1 & 5. I really like the complexity & intensity of his music - it must be very difficult to play, there's hardly any breaks in both works.
You say you've met Sculthorpe - this must have been when he was outside of Australia, overseas? I assume you don't live here in Australia?
The photo is not mine, but I love cats & dogs. I don't own any, though...
Funny you should mention Elliot Carter's piano music. On the weekend, I just heard his Dialogues, composed within the last 5 or so years, for piano solo & 18 instruments. It's an interesting piece, I've got it on a Naxos CD/DVD set. I'm looking to get his SQ's this week...
Thanks for mentioning those other composers, I'll check them out at some stage (esp. Ginastera, who I've been interested in for a while - love his pupil, Piazzolla).
I understand Sculthorpe has composed for solo piano, but I've only heard his early Left Bank Waltz. I don't think he's done a sonata, it's just not really his sort of thing, I guess...
