James Wright composes a piece for an event commemorating Jack Layton

 

Music Professor James Wright has composed a piece of music to commemorate Jack Layton’s final letter to Canadians.  Wright was asked by The Leading Note Foundation to write a piece for an event being held on the afternoon of September 29, 2012, honouring Layton.  At the event, the Honourable Olivia Chow will receive a posthumous Peace Award for her late husband, Jack Layton.  Wright’s composition is entitled “To Young Canadians” – a tribute to the portion of Layton’s letter where he addresses Canada’s generation of up and comers. Olivia Chow has said that she is “truly thrilled that Dr. Wright will be composing something special in honour of Jack.”   

Written for two-part Youth Choir and soprano soloist accompanied by piano and string orchestra, the piece will be performed for the first time at the event by the young soprano soloist Jenna Glatt together with instrumentalists and choristers from The Leading Note Foundation’s OrKidstra program, directed by Margaret Tobolowska and Jeannie Hunter, and members of the Cantiamo and Ottawa Childrens Choirs, directed by Jackie Hawley.

The text of the piece is adapted from the letter Layton penned just two days prior to his death on August 22, 2011.  Well aware of the outpouring of emotion that followed Layton’s death, Wright hopes to have engineered a tribute that conveys the essential optimism of his final message to Canada.

“Layton’s letter is a richly textured and profoundly inspiring text for a composer,” said Wright.  “Moods and sentiments such as serenity, courage, optimism and conviction are among those that composers can readily convey with the expressive palette of musical language.  These feelings underlie almost every word in Layton’s letter, and as soon as I rolled up my sleeves to begin to work with his text, it became apparent to me that I would simply need to identify its emotional core, and strive to give it musical expression.  I also wanted the melodies to be memorable, a pleasure to sing, and as clear and accessible for the listener as Layton’s message was for all Canadians.”

Wright’s Composition

While writing “To Young Canadians,” it was also Wright’s intention to capture and embody Jack Layton’s enthusiasm and devotion to his public role, as well as the unabashed sentiment he held for his country.

 

“Layton’s Letter to Canadians expresses a profound love of country, passionate conviction concerning the major issues of the day, eternal optimism, and a belief that if Canada’s youth engage their hearts and minds, they will build a better Canada and a better world.  I wrote “To Young Canadians” as a tribute to a great Canadian, whose message it aims to spread through the universal language of music.  While Layton’s words may seem sufficient in themselves, I hope that my musical setting will add resonance to his message.  I am thrilled that young Canadians have played such a significant role in this project. Their presence will be both hugely symbolic and immediately evident at the first performance, since the piece will be sung by 120 young voices, string players from the Leading Note Foundation’s OrKidstra, and the extraordinary young soloist Jenna Glatt.”

Wright explains that contributing to a meaningful event such as this has been both a challenging and validating venture.

“It was deeply humbling – if also a bit daunting – to be asked to write a “tribute” piece of this kind.  I felt a sense of responsibility to pay musical homage to Jack Layton, without letting my music get in the way of his message.  It will mean a great deal to me if, on September 29, the young singers sing their hearts out during the performance, and will remember and reflect on Layton’s inspiring message as a result.”

For more details on the event here