Music of Saskatchewan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Music of Canada | ||
|---|---|---|
| Maritime Provinces (NS, PEI, NB) | ||
| Newfoundland and Labrador | ||
| Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Yukon | ||
| Prairie Provinces (AB, MB, SK) | ||
| First Nations (Inuit, Dene, Innu) | ||
| Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec | ||
| Genres: Blues - Celtic - Classical - Folk - Hip hop - Jazz - Pop - Rock | ||
| Timeline and Samples | ||
| Awards | Junos, Félixes, Hall of Fame, ECMAs, WCMAs, CASBYs, CRMAs, CCMAs, MMVAs, CUMAs | |
| Charts | Jam!, Chart, Exclaim! | |
| Festivals | CMW, NXNE, Halifax Pop Explosion, VFMF | |
| Print media | CM, CMN, Chart, Exclaim!, The Record, RPM | |
| Music television | Much, MMM, CMT Canada, MusiquePlus, MusiMax | |
| National anthem | "O Canada" | |
Saskatchewan is one of the Prairie Provinces of Canada.
[edit] Regina
Regina was incorporated in 1883, and became the provincial capital in 1905. Early in its history, the city boasted numerous bands, including a brass band, Musical and Dramatic Society and a number of church choirs.
Frank L. Laubach, a professional Scottish musician arrived in Regina in 1904, and was a prominent figure for eighteen years. During that time, he founded the Regina Philharmonic Society (1904), Saskatchewan Music Festival (1908, with F. W. Chisholm), Regina Orchestral Society (1908) and the Regina Operatic Society (1909).
After Laubach's retirement in 1922, three choral and orchestra society groups exist: Regina Symphony Orchestra, Regina Male Voice Choir and Regina Choral Society. Only two years later, the three societies again merged to form the Regina Philharmonic Association. The Regina Symphony Orchestra later departed from that association, in 1926.
Musicians from Regina include Edith Fowke, Helen Dahlstrom, Nina Dempsey, Norman Farrow, Barbara Franklin, Colin James, Audrey Johannesen, Muriel Kerr, Gary Kosloski, Peter Clements, June Kowalchuk, Owen Underhill, Gaelyne Gabora and Jack Semple
[edit] Saskatoon
The city of Saskatoon was founded in 1882 and incorporated in 1903. During that time, the city's population grew swiftly. In the early 20th century, operettas by Gilbert & Sullivan, vaudeville and minstrel shows were among the most common forms of musical performance. The Saskatoon Philharmonic Society was founded in 1908, and won a prize of the first Saskatchewan Music Festival in 1909. The number of professional groups grew steadily through the next couple years, with the founding of the Saskatoon Oratorio Society in 1913 and later, the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in 1931 or 1932. With the Great Depression in the early 30s, however, the musical community suffered.
The Celebrity Concert Series, held by the Saskatoon Kinsmen Club, began, in 1944, to introduce international celebrities every year for twenty-six years. Other groups include the Saskatoon Oratorio Society, Saskatoon Opera Association, Prairie Opera Inc. and the Saskatoon Lyric Theatre Society.
Musicians from Saskatoon include Neil Chotem, Brenton Price Dutton, Susan Pesklevits Jacks, Lorraine McAllister Richards, Irene Bubniuk, David Swan, Lesia Zubrack Romanoff, Kim Brandt, Mike Ferbey (of the Rhythm Pals) and Walter Babiak.
In the 1990s, Saskatoon-based pop-rock group Wide Mouth Mason achieved national success in Canada.
In 2004, Theresa Sokyrka, born in Moose Jaw and since moved to Saskatoon, became first runner-up in the second season of Canadian Idol. Sokyrka's jazz and blues-influenced musicianship made her the critical darling of the series. Lionel Richie, appearing on one episode, said that Sokyrka had inside her the soul of an old black woman.
