A composition for piano and orchestra by Robert Lemay

The prize winner of the 2007 International Competition Prize Luxembourg, the 2006 Kazimierz Serocki 10th International Composers’ Competition in Poland, and the 2004 Harelbeke Muziekstad Wind Ensemble Competition in Belgium, Robert Lemay wrote his piano concerto “Oiseau de givre” (Bird of Frost) in 2005 for the gifted Japanese-Canadian pianist and contemporary music specialist, Yoko Hirota, and the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra (SSO). Ms. Hirota’s world premiere of the one-movement concerto was conducted by the SSO’s music director, Maestro Victor Sawa.

Oiseau de givre was commissioned by the SSO with the financial support of the Ontario Arts Council. The concerto owes its inspiration to a poem of the same title by Anne Hébert (1916-2000), the Canadian poet, novelist and playwright. The work explores the colors and the possibilities of the orchestra in a constant dialogue between the piano and the orchestra. About the piece, Lemay comments: “I was particularly struck by these two lines from the poem: ‘Bird of frost with broken voice, like glass.’ These lines gave me instantly the color that I wanted to have for the piece. The "color" of broken glass is present throughout.”

Robert Lemay, Composer

Bio and Works at the Canadian Music Centre

Robert Lemay holds a doctorate degree in composition from the Universite de Montreal where he studied under Michel Longtin, and a master's degree from Universite Laval with Francois Morel. He also studied at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and has worked with David Felder and taken part in seminars with Brian Ferneyhough, Louis Andriessen, and Donald Erb. In France, he worked with François Rosse in Bordeaux and Georges Aspergis at the ATEM in Paris.

Among recent honour is the second prize from the Kazimierz Serocki 10th International Composers' Competition 2006, a prestigious international orchestra contest in Poland organized by the Polish Society for Contemporary Music Other international prizes include the first prize from the 2004 Harelbeke Muziekstad Wind Ensemble Competition in Belgium. The first prize was given by the city of Harelbeke with 10,000 Euro for his piece, Ramallah for saxophone alto and wind ensemble. In addition, Lemay received the first prize at the Fourth Contrabassoon Composers Competition "El Ruiseñor Grave" in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1998, three prizes from the CAPAC (presently SOCAN), and received numerous grants from the Quebec, the Ontario, and the Canada Council for the Arts.

His music, which often employs virtuoso performance techniques, is characterized by an imaginative and unconventional use of the concert hall space. Lemay has composed many works, and his music has been performed in Canada, the United States, Japan, Europe (France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, and Belgium), and in South America (Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela). Many of his pieces have also been broadcast on Radio-Canada, the CBC, Bavarian State Radio and Polish National Radio. By 2006, his music has been released commercially on six different CDs, including Débâcle on the Atma label by Estria Woodwind Quintet His piece Mitsu no kisetsu for mezzo-soprano and baritone saxophone is published by the Éditions Jobert in Paris. Four pieces for solo saxophone, including the 5 Études for alto saxophone, are also published by the Éditions Fuzeau in France Saxophone is dominant in his entire oeuvre. Lemay has written for performers such as Daniel Gauthier, Jean-Francois Guay, Remi Menard, Jean-Michel Goury, Serge Bertocchi, Susan Fancher, Jean-Marie Londeix, Le Quatuor de Saxophones Nelligan, Danish Saxophone Quartet, Xasax, Le Cuarteto de Saxofones Italica, and Miguel Romero Moran. Robert Lemay also wrote pieces for notable musicians such as Yang Jing (pipa), Jean-Guy Boisvert (clarinet), James C. Lebens (trombone), Michel Bettez (bassoon), Ensemble Vent et Percusion de Québec, Ensemble Clavivent, Estria Quintet, and Ensemble Musica Nova. Most recently, Lemay wrote a piano concert for the Japanese-Canadian pianist Yoko Hirota, premiered by the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra in February.

Robert Lemay teaches theory, form and analysis, and composition at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. He is also the President and the Co-artistic director of the 5-Penny New Music Concerts in Sudbury.

Robert Lemay, Compositeur

Biographie et ouevres au Centre de musique canadienne

Robert Lemay a obtenu un doctorat en composition de l'Université de Montréal sous la direction de Michel Longtin et une maîtrise de l'Université Laval avec de François Morel. Il a également étudié à la State University of New York at Buffalo où il travailla avec David Felder et y suivit des séminaires avec, entre autres, Brian Ferneyhough, Donald Erb et Louis Andriesson. De plus, il a suivi des stages en France avec François Rossé Bordeaux et Georges Asperghis à l'ATEM à Paris.

Parmi les distinctions les plus récentes, nous pouvons citer le deuxième prix au 10e Concours international de composition Kazimierz Serocki 2006 en Pologne, un prestigieux concours international organisé par la Société polonaise pour la musique contemporaine. D’autres prix internationaux comprennent, en autres, premier prix au prestigieux «2004 Harelbeke Muziekstad Wind Ensemble Competition» en Belgique. Le prix, d’une valeur de 10,000 euros, a été décerné par la ville d’Harelbeke pour sa pièce Ramallah pour saxophone alto et orchestre à vent. Robert Lemay a aussi obtenu le premier prix au «El Ruiseñor Grave» à Buenos Aires, Argentine, en 1998 et est récipiendaire de 3 prix CAPAC (présentement SOCAN). Il a reçu de nombreuses subventions des conseils des arts du Canada, du Québec et de l’Ontario.

Sa musique, d'une grande virtuosité instrumentale, se caractérise par un emploi d'effets scéniques et une exploitation de l'espace concert. Compositeur prolifique, plusieurs de ses oeuvres ont été jouées en concert au Québec, au Canada, aux USA, au Japon, en Europe (France, Danemark, Allemagne, Italie, Pays-bas, République Tchèque, Hongrie, Slovénie et Belgique) et en Amérique du Sud (Argentine, Brésil et Venuzuela). Plusieurs de ses oeuvres ont été diffusées à la radio de Radio-Canada, CBC, à la Radio Bavaroise et à la Radio Nationale Polonaise. Jusqu’à présent, sa musique est présente sur 6 Cds, incluant Débâcle sur étiquette Atma par le Quintette Estria. Sa pièce Mitsu no kisetsu pour mezzo-soprano et saxophone baryton est publiée aux Éditions Jobert à Paris et 4 pièces pour saxophone seul, incluant les 5 Études pour saxophone alto, sont disponible aux Éditions Fuzeau en France.

Le saxophone, son instrument de prédilection, est omniprésent dans son oeuvre. Robert Lemay a écrit plusieurs oeuvres pour des interprètes tels que Daniel Gauthier, Jean-François Guay, Rémi Ménard, Jean-Michel Goury, Susan Fancher, Serge Bertocchi, Jean-Marie Londeix, le Quatuor de Saxophones Nelligan, le Danish Saxophone Quartet, Xasax, le Cuarteto de Saxofones Italica et Miguel Romero Moran. Robert Lemay a aussi écrit des oeuvres pour des musiciens reconnus tels que Yang Jing (pipa), Jean-Guy Boisvert (clarinette), James C Lebens (trombone), Michel Bettez (basson), l'Ensemble vent et percussion de Québec, l'Ensemble Clavivent, l'Ensemble Percumania, le Quintet à vents Estria, et l'Ensemble Musica Nova. Récamment, Robert Lemay à écrit un concerto pour piano pour la pianiste Yoko Hirota et qui a été crée par l’Orchestre Symphonique de Sudbury en février 2006.

Robert Lemay enseigne la théorie, l'analyse et la composition à l'Université Laurentienne à Sudbury, Ontario. Il est aussi président et codirecteur artistique du 5-Penny New Music Concerts à Sudbury.

All content © Yoko Hirota

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