Music Graduate Colloquium: Omar Daniel (Western) NEW VENUE

Presented by Graduate Studies in Music, the Don Wright Faculty of Music Graduate Colloquium series includes lectures by distinguished guests, Western faculty members, and senior graduate students on all fields of research and creative activity in music.

All are welcome to attend. No advance registration or tickets required. End times are approximate. 

Omar Daniel (Western University)
“Antarktos Monodies: conception, creation, realization"

Bio

Omar Daniel received his MusDoc in music theory and composition from the University of Toronto in 1995 and joined the Don Wright Faculty of Music in 2000. He is an active composer, having written extensively in solo, chamber, electronic, orchestral and operatic idioms.

Dr. Daniel's current research interests explore the inclusion of ancient Estonian folksong material in his original compositions: Metsa Maasikad (Wild Strawberries), Violin Concerto, Mehetapja (Husband Killer) and Üheksa Eesti Regilaulud (Nine Estonian Runo Songs) all explore this relationship. Dr. Daniel's analytical interests are broad but have a particular focus on composers from northern and eastern Europe including Kurtág, Schnittke, Ustvolskaya, Pärt, Gubaidulina and Ligeti.

Abstract

Antarktos Monodies is a composition for a cappella choir composed by Dr. Daniel for the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in 2023. The work sets the sonnet Antarktos by American writer Howard Phillips Lovecraft. This presentation will explore the work from its conceptual stage, through the composition phase, culminating with the premiere performance in February 2024.