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June 14, 2004
Symphonia Masonica Review
Edmonton, Alberta
New Alberta Symphony
Last night, I attended the World Premiere of a new symphony written by my truly gifted brother, Bernie Zolner, and the great Alberta composer, George Blondheim. The two have collaborated before on other projects, such as the score for the movie The Jewel of the Nile and on the recent production of the NHL´s Heritage Hockey Classic, recently performed outdoors in Edmonton for over 60,000 people. When they collaborate with each other, magic happens.
Bernie and George were commissioned by the Grand Lodge of the Alberta Freemasons to compose a symphony for the lodge's provincial centenary. They then created Symphonia Masonica, a symphony in three movements, which is the result of "hundreds of hours of collaboration" between these two brilliantly talented Albertans.
For the premiere, they chose the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Winspear Centre for Music in Edmonton. I´d never been in the Winspear centre before, although I knew Francis Winspear when he was alive, so it was nice to be in the building named for him. The event production was handled by Aquila Productions and famous videographer in his own right, Don Metz, who not only was dressed in the most beautiful suit I think I´ve ever seen, but also looked positively glowing after the performance. Like the program notes said, "If you watch TV, then you have seen Don´s work." The production was filmed and recorded, and large video screens on either side of the concert hall projected inspiring artistic images during the evening´s performances.
Having only heard the symphony once, I can tell you that the three movements each inspired for different reasons. The opening movement moved smoothly between allegretto and a lively allegro, full of promise and wonder in its motifs. The movement opened with the grand resounding of the Davis Concert Organ, the largest one in Canada (and in the top-ten of North American organs), itself a work of art. After the organ, a pause, and then enchantment, which didn't end until the final, enlightenend note at the end of the symphony. The second movement gripped me with emotion. It was slow, full, and rich, bringing the piece to its final maturity in the third movement and the most incredible 1st violin solo I believe I have ever heard. The talent of the musicians in the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra brought out the complexity of this symphony´s multiple motifs, which included poignant moments highlighted with that most natural of instruments, the human voice, in a full-range choir which stood between the orchestra and one other very pleasant surprise.
If you can believe it, on top of all that amazement, world-reknown Canadian artist, James Picard, stood elevated above the choir and in front of the organ pipes, where he composed and produced a painting while the entire event was happening. I can´t even imagine what it was like to stand above the entire gathering in the Winspear Centre and paint while the massively ornate, gorgeous pipe organ resonated right through him. It must have been a transcendent experience. I know watching the entire production was just that for me. In the end, he produced a work of art that was symbolically representative of Masonic culture and a testament to his own greatness as an artist. James, George and Bernie became a triangle of excellence in that concert hall last night.
Now, one truly noble characteristic of George and Bernie is that they fundamentally are down-to-earth Albertans. They aren´t pretentious, and both demonstrated their belief in the unconquerable power and value of the human spirit. So, not only did they premiere their symphony and invite James Picard to create along with it, they also invited audience participation during the first half of the evening. The symphony, itself, occurred during the second half of the program, the first half being devoted to other pieces. The evening opened with Mozart's "Overture" from The Magic Flute, followed by the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Opus 67 , which I had not heard live before.
After Mozart and Beethoven, it was our turn. Upon entering the Winspear, each person was able to take a musical instrument -- recorders, drum skins and sticks, harmonicas, slide whistles, and various percussion instruments. I had a clear blue recorder, which I´ll tell you more about in a sec. After the perfection of Beethoven, George turned to the audience, and conducted us in our own symphonic presentation, the Steelcraft & Coast Music Interactive. Using a little mental imagery and some visual stimuli presented on large video screens, he encouraged us to play our instruments however the images struck us with full permission to give it our all. It was so cool. Everyone had a chance to contribute, and George alternated between the full audience orchestra as well as various sections -- "Ok, now all the harmonicas!" Like that. Then, solos from each -- performed by whomever had the guts to play out loud while everyone else in the concert hall was silent.
At one point, looking at a small duck going about its business on the video screens, George called for a single recorder. To my own astonishment, the most beautiful recorder note came out of me and my clear-blue recorder. Starting subtly and growing, it turned into a trill as the duck shook itself and moved around. I think George was impressed : ) I wonder if I´ll get a credit on the DVD ; ) It was such great fun (plus we got to keep the instruments).
After the audience ensemble, George conducted the orchestra in what was the most smile-inspiring moment of the entire night: the performance of The March of the Shrine (with George wearing a Shriner's hat and coat!). I say this was the most smile-inspiring moment because The March of the Shrine was composed by my brother, Bernie, and arranged by George. The piece is an incredibly complicated march with a touch of camp, as the conductor, at critical junctures, blows this great, old whistle. You have to know my brother -- genius mixed with old fashioned humour -- to fully appreciate intricately blending music of the eternal spheres with down-to-earth, in-your-face humanity. Priceless.
I'll tell you something else about my brother. His photo doesn't appear anywhere in the program, and he just barely takes credit for anything to which he contributed during the evening, not even the design of the playbill, itself. He did write an introduction to the event in which he made some notable points about the arts, which I would like to quote:
"There are certain occasions that bring to mind the nature and position of art within our community and its deep connection with the identity of our culture. Art lives on as a testimony and a legacy towards future generations. In matters of Classical Music, it is unusual when you realize that the concentration of efforts remains on the performances of past masters of the old world. Their great works remain a living legacy to their age and are grand statements of 'we lived' and 'this is what we achieved in our time.'
Alberta will soon celebrate its centenary, and Albertans must put aside political differences and realize that we are a culture equal to any other in the world, past or present. We have matured, and at this juncture, we must begin to consider what kind of statements we will leave behind and continue to build into the future.
Art has become buried in an avalanche of the pragmatic and the mundane. Great art requires the nurturing of budding artists and the patronage of great people. The Symphonia Masonica is a spendid and benevolent gesture of the members of the Grand Lodge of Alberta, who recognize that a need has developed in our society to demonstrate that the people of Alberta are capable of contributing to the grand cultural legacy of the world. We are more than hewers of wood and carriers of water, and this most ancient and venerable institution has stepped up to the mark in its firm conviction that the human spirit and resources of Alberta must be nurtured, grown and celebrated, as they are surely greater and more valuable than all of the natural resources that we are blessed with in this province.
To achieve our equal position as contributors and not just consumers of the great legacy of human civiolization, we must pause every so often to put aside our worries, our fears and the daily stress inflicted upon us by the modern world. We must stop and smell the fowers of art that spring from the inspiration that we, ourselves, give to our artists through simply living together and thus sharing our hopes, our triumphs and our tragedies.
To this end, we present the Symphonia Masonica, the fruit of many hundreds of hours of collaboration between composer, George Blondheim, and myself. This work would have been impossible to achieve without the efforts and support of many people, and a herculean effort by Mr. Cameron MacKay."
This excerpt from the playbill spoke strongly to me of the importance of creation, innovation, and art as part of the life-blood of our heritage. Bernie has that kind of vision.
That's my brother. I couldn't be more proud.
Bernie then goes on to thank other great Alberta artists supporting the symphony's premiere, including Hon. Gene Zwosdesky, the Alberta Minister of Culture, who presented a cheque for 50,000 to the Grand Lodge, as well as Don Metz and Aquila Productions, who, among many other events, regularly produce the Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Eskimos for television.
The performance will be available on CD and DVD, and proceeds will go to the Masonic Higher Education Bursary Fund, which was founded in 1959 with four bursaries. This is one of the largest private bursary programs in Alberta, and, in the past six years alone, has funded 560 students for a total value of over six-hundred thousand dollars.
I hope someday you have the opportunity to see the DVD or, even better, to hear the Symphonia Masonica performed live. Like me, you will remember the experience always, and it will enrich your life.
I extend my deepest congratulations to Bernie, George, James, Don, the choir and all the musicians for their outstanding performances during this remarkable event in the province of Alberta. You have elevated us all to new heights of inspiration and a brighter, more hope-filled future.