UPEI Wind Symphony’s ‘O Canada’ a hit at Island schools

A recent CD recording of O Canada by the UPEI Wind Symphony is now being played in public schools across Prince Edward Island and is receiving rave reviews.

O Canada became part of this academic year's UPEI Wind Symphony programming when they were invited to be part of the inaugural concert at the new Montague Regional High School in October. There, the UPEI group collaborated with the high school band (Kirk White, director) and the Montague Intermediate School Band (Jonathan MacInnis, director), resulting in a massed band of 150 performers.

The rendition was electric, sending shivers up the spine of many in the audience, and convinced UPEI Wind Symphony Director Karem Simon that he should propose recording the national anthem as part of the symphony's 13th annual CD project, to extend its reach beyond just live performances.

'O Canada is played at schools across Prince Edward Island at the beginning of each school day. Many of the renditions were older, so I thought this might be an opportunity to introduce a fresh, locally-recorded, and quality version to Island students. I hoped that the schools might include our interpretation, at least, in the rotation of those that are used.'

Simon contacted Vicki Allen-Cook, the arts curriculum consultant with the Department of Education in early December to ascertain whether there might be any interest in UPEI providing a CD copy for every school.

Allen-Cook said, 'When Karem approached me, I thought, ‘What a great gift this would be on so many levels.' The UPEI Wind Symphony is among the leading ensembles in the province and to have their talent reach Island students through an important national symbol like our anthem is especially meaningful. After I consulted with my colleagues, I was able to reply to Karem's proposal with a resounding ‘yes.''

Frank Nabuurs, music and band teacher at East Wiltshire Intermediate School was one of those colleagues who welcomed the recording. He said, 'Having such a high-calibre rendition of O Canada play each morning does inspire my students as they know the recording is from the UPEI Wind Symphony. They recognize that they can continue performing, and make an impact with their music, after they have completed public schooling as many members of the Wind Symphony have.'

The dignified and profoundly patriotic rendition that the Wind Symphony recorded is by Howard Cable, one of Canada's leading musicians, composers and arrangers. The recording was distributed to Island public schools in February and is now being enjoyed by students across the province.

Financing for the recording was provided by the UPEI Department of Music.

About the UPEI Wind Symphony
The UPEI Wind Symphony is comprised of music students at UPEI and a variety of community musicians. Each year it performs a variety of recitals on the UPEI campus and throughout PEI, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In addition, its annual recording project, has resulted in thirteen CDs to date.

About O Canada
O Canada, Canada's national anthem, was written by Calixa Lavallée (1842-1891) for the Congrès national des Canadiens-Français (French Canadian National Festival) held in Quebec City during the Saint Jean Baptiste festivities in June 1880. The original lyrics, in French, were the contribution of Adolphe-Basile Routhier. Beginning in 1901, English lyrics, written by various lyricists, were heard across the country.

One hundred years after its first performance, in 1980, O Canada was officially proclaimed the national anthem of Canada, with French lyrics by Routhier and English lyrics by Robert Stanley Weir.