Malcolm Forsyth
(1936-2011) Canadian Composer
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Malcolm Forsyth Symposium in Calgary, Oct 17-19/19 – Book published.

by jmbmf
August 10th, 2022

There was a Symposium at the University of Calgary for Malcolm Forsyth, Oct 17-19/19.  His daughter Amanda, a world-renown cellist, performed the concerto her father wrote for her, Electra Rising, with the Calgary Philharmonic.

From this Symposium a book on Malcolm Forsyth, edited by Mary I. Ingraham and Robert C. Rival, was issued by the University of Alberta Press. Copies of this book Reflections on Malcolm Forsyth can be purchased through this link. It is available in hard copy and pdf formats.

Malcolm Forsyth (1936–2011) was a musical legend: a much-loved composer, performer, teacher, and mentor. Reflections on Malcolm Forsyth presents a captivating and approachable portrait of one of Canada’s finest modern composers. Readers will discover both public and private sides to the man and gain fresh insights from critical assessments of a broad range of Forsyth’s compositions, his continuing popular appreciation, and his lasting influence on the next generation of musicians and music scholars. Drawing from the perspectives of leading scholars, composers, and musicians, as well as on those of family, friends, students, and colleagues, Reflections on Malcolm Forsyth honours the rich life and cultural significance of this exceptional creative mind. It is important reading for music students and researchers, professional performers, and anyone who loves contemporary music.

Contributors: Tommy Banks, Allan Gordon Bell, Nora Bumanis, Robin Elliott, Amanda Forsyth, Valerie Forsyth, Allan Gilliland, Carl Hare, Mary I. Ingraham, Edward Jurkowski, Ryan McClelland, John McPherson, Fordyce C. (Duke) Pier, Roxane Prevost, Kathy Primos, Tanya Prochazka, Leonard Ratzlaff, Rayfield Rideout, Robert C. Rival, Julia Shaw, Dale Sorensen, Christopher Taylor

Book details

Publication date: October 2019
Features: 68 musical examples, 5 tables, list of works, notes, index

Malcolm is a 3 time Juno award winner for Best Composition, and was also nominated for that award another 3 times.

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Conquering Beauty: The Life and Music of Malcolm Forsyth

by jmbmf
May 7th, 2016

Conquering Beauty: The Life and Music of Malcolm Forsyth continues to garner awards and acclaim as it makes the rounds of film festivals. Having screened to critical audiences at the Classical Arts film festival, and been awarded the Rising Star Award in recognition of excellence in filmmaking at the 2016 Canada International Film Festival, the film has recently been nominated for best Biography Documentary at the upcoming Yorkton Film Festival at the
end of May. Conquering Beauty has been nominated in four categories at the upcoming AMPIA (Alberta Media Production Industry Association) Rosie Awards to be held in Calgary May 7, 2016. The film will also be screening that same day at the North West Film Fest in Edmonton at 12:00 pm at the NAIT Shaw Theatre.
Composer Malcolm Forsyth, father of international cello superstar Amanda Forsyth, emigrated from South Africa to Canada in1968, where he began a career in music which spanned five decades. A complicated man fascinated with the ideal of beauty, he was destined to become one of Canada’s leading classical music composers. His work resonates with audiences and musicians alike, and his final, culminating piece, A Ballad of Canada, which premiered just a few weeks before his death, is heralded as a Canadian masterpiece.
This powerful documentary explores his life, his turbulent relationship with his daughter, and his tremendous impact on Canadian music. It is a narrative about a composer’s life. It is also an invitation to explore the beauty, complexity and value of classical music.
“His music was played across the country. There’s not an orchestra that hasn’t played it, there’s not a choir that hasn’t sung it. He did desire a better country.”
—Allan Gordon Bell
The film was produced for CBC TV with funding from the Alberta Media Fund.

Company of Women on the Screen Inc.
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Edmonton, Alberta T6C 2A4
Tel. 780 465 7453
Cell. 780 446 5739
Email. wynnyk@shaw.ca

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Double Concerto for Cello and Viola performed in Ottawa

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March 14th, 2014

#MalcolmForsyth‘s Double Concerto for Cello and Viola, was performed by cellist @Amanda.Forsyth and violist #JethroMarks with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, conducted by #PinchasZukerman, March 6 & 7/14.
This performance was wonderful. The rapport between the soloists was excellent. There are two cadenzi and the glorious interplay between Amanda and Jethro was exquisite. The middle movement, the Adagio Cantabile was delightful. Very enjoyableForsyth Dble Conc NACO Mar 6-7.14-0207.
The performance was being filmed and a short clip will be included in an upcoming documentary about Malcolm Forsyth, being created by the award-winning film maker, #TheresaWynnyk, of the Company of Women on the Screen, film company.
Theresa won Best Animated Short at the Edmonton Film Festival in 2012, for her film created to accompany the live performance of Malcolm Forsyth’s violin concerto, Trickster Coyote – Lightening Elk. This can be watched at this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyYtRfkXGGE
This uses the unique and beautiful art work of #MaxineNoel

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Accordion Concerto recording by Antonio Peruch nominated for 2013 Western Canadian Music Award

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July 2nd, 2013

From the press release of Antonio Peruch

Classical concert accordionist Antonio Peruch’s JUNO-nominated Logos Futura CD has just been nominated for a 2013 Western Canadian Music Award for Classical Recording of the Year. And one of the compositions on this CD—Malcolm Forsyth’s virtuosic Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra—has been nominated for Classical Composition of the Year.

The Logos Futura CD has also been nominated for Italy’s Orpheus Award for best classical accordion recording.

Logos Futura includes three landmark world premiere recordings for classical concert accordion and orchestra. These works were composed expressly for Antonio by Malcolm Forsyth, Violet Balestreri Archer, and Allan Gilliland. Antonio recorded the Forsyth concerto with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and then Music Director Grzegorz Nowak, and recorded the Archer and Gilliland works with Cuba’s prestigious Camerata Romeu string orchestra under the direction of their founder and Music Director Zenaida Romeu.

I invite you to purchase this outstanding CD from The Gramophone Inc. at 1-800-231-7594 (toll-free in North America), 780-428-2356, or in person at 7913 104 Street in Edmonton. Ordering information and hours of operation are available on The Gramophone’s website here: www.gramophone.ca

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Forsyth – Concerto for Accordion on Juno Nominated Disc

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February 25th, 2013

Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment

Antonio Peruch/Edmonton Symphony Orchestra FisarmonicArt*Independent
Logos Futura

Knighted by the Republic of Italy for his contribution to music, Antonio Peruch pursues his vision of the accordion as an exciting classical concert instrument. His Logos Futura accordion, built to his specifications in Italy, helps him achieve this vision. His debut Logos Futura CD features the World Premiere recordings of three landmark concerti he commissioned—Malcolm Forsyth’s Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra (Peruch’s live 2001 world premiere performance with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Grzegorz Nowak); Violet Archer’s Pensieroso; and Allan Gilliland’s Concerto for Accordion and String Orchestra. He recorded the Archer and Gilliland works with Cuba’s prestigious Camerata Romeu chamber orchestra, conducted by Music Director Zenaida Romeu, and gave the Gilliland world premiere performance with them in Havana. He has performed with several chamber ensembles and as concerto soloist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, the Sooke Philharmonic Chamber Players, and the San Diego Jewish Community Center Orchestra. Peruch’s upcoming CD releases include Loving: The Music of Astor Piazzolla and Homenaje al Tango, the only monographic CD of Daniel Binelli’s music—both recorded with New York-based Uruguayan pianist and tango specialist Polly Ferman and Cuba’s Camerata Romeu.

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