WSO Gr. 4/5

On Tuesday, April 4th, our Grade 4/5 classes will be heading to the Centennial Concert Hall to hear the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra perform Adventures in Music. Will join with them as we celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. In Canadian Mosaic, the WSO will explore the diversity and creativity that makes Canada great, featuring an all-Canadian program of music. Help us celebrate the true north, strong and free! We are in for a treat with performances by student performers, guest artists and the WSO!


We have been studying the relationship between art and sound for the past few weeks as we listened to Jean Coulthard's "The Contented House."  These were words the students came up to describe a 'contented' house.

The Contented House by Jean Coulthard

A La Claire Fontaine - French Canadian Song used

in The Contented House.  Can you hear it?

Ca-na-da by Bobby Gimby

Check out this amazing composer: Dinuk Wijeratne

We will be listening to this beautiful piece written by Wijeratne that incorporates the flavour of East Indian sounds with western orchestra instruments. Check out link to the song:  White in the Moon

Learning about East Indian music and the tabla drums in White in the Moon the Long Road Lies

Malcolm Forsyth was born in South Africa and moved to Canada in 1968 where he settled and lived his life in Edmonton.  He was an active trombonist, composer, and educator.  Here is the song from Atayoskewin (Cree for 'sacred legend') that he was commissioned to write to mark the opening of a new refinery northwest of Edmonton. The Dance from Atayoskewin

Burton Cummings (Winnipeg born) - My Own Way to Rock

The final piece in the program is Chanson de la Terre, written by celebrated Franco-Manitobain songwriter Daniel Lavoie and newly arranged by WSO Composer-in-Residence Harry Stafylakis. This piece addresses environmental themes and the importance of caring for the Earth. Near the end of the piece, the orchestra musicians will put down their instruments and sing the final choruses along with the choir and audience. We are hoping that students will be able to join in singing as soon as the orchestra stops playing (at letter I, measure 122).

Chanson De La Terre by Daniel Lavoie