Canada sings? : issues of regional and national identity in choral settings of maritime folksongs

2007·8 MB·English

by  Denis, Kimberley, author

1

I

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2017 with funding from
University of Alberta Libraries
https://archive.org/details/denis2007
University of Alberta
Canada Sings?
Issues of Regional and National Identity in
Choral Settings of Maritime Folksongs
By
Kimberley Denis
An essay submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Master of Music
in
Choral Conducting
Department of Music
Edmonton, Alberta
Fall, 2007
department of music
ROOM 3-82. FINE arts BUILDING
THE UNfVERSiTV OF ALBERTA
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA
T6G 2C9
>:
Abstract
A preponderance of Canadian choral literature based on folk material uses melodies
from eastern Canada. This paper discusses whether or not these songs can be
identified as Canadian, thereby contributing to Canadian national identity. In an
attempt to determine whether or not choral settings of Maritime folksongs differ when
set by composers and arrangers from various regions across the country, issues of
regionalism and regional identity also became important for understanding the role
these choral arrangements play in Canadian identity. The tales in the folksongs
highlight an element of identity which binds us together and acknowledges our
distinctiveness; therefore, by using Maritime folksongs, composers and arrangers can
help us understand why we call ourselves Canadian. Eastern Canadian folksongs can
lead to understanding between communities and unite a country like Canada, so
vastly different from coast to coast.
c