Compositions
Published and Unpublished Works
Published Compositions
String Quartet No. 1: "Ellen at Scattergood" (Counterpoint Music, Toronto, 2023)
Dedication: "Commissioned by David Cray as a gift for his wife, Ellen, and as a reflection of their time together on Lac Scattergood, Quebec"
Total duration: 20 minutes (21 minutes in performance, with pauses between movements)
Featured on CD recording: De Mille Feux (Halifax: Leaf Music, 2022) De Mille Feux | Leaf Music (leaf-music.ca)
Recording artists: Quatuor Andara/Andara Quartet (Montréal):
Marie-Claire Vaillancourt (violin), Jeanne Côté (violin), Vincent Delorme (viola), and Dominique Beauséjour-Ostiguy (cello), with Veronica Galicia (recording engineer).
Recording dates: July 2020, May 2022
Premiere performance: Andara String Quartet, Chamberfest 2022, July 28th, Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, Ottawa.
Article by Nick Ward: https://carleton.ca/fass/story/the-sound-of-love-on-the-lake/
Publisher: Counterpoint Music, Toronto (2023)
Awards: 2022 Petrichor Prize, Composition (>30 years of age category)
REVIEWS
CBC Music writes: "James K. Wright's lush, tuneful String Quartet No. 1, titled 'Ellen at Scattergood,' is one of the year's best discoveries." https://www.cbc.ca/music/our-22-favourite-canadian-classical-albums-of-2022-1.6656831
American composer Dr. John Cornelius II writes: "Ellen at Scattergood is a really decisive string quartet with attitude! The pacing of the movements really allows the listener to get inside the piece, and it takes traditional forms and genres (Tarantella, Waltz, Rondo) and turns them on their ear. This is a brilliantly sophisticated work that has nothing to prove, except its composer’s audacity.”
Ken Meltzer, Fanfare Magazine (Issue 46:6 (July/Aug 2023) writes:
"I found the Wright String Quartet No. 1 to be an extremely appealing and moving work ... The Quartet’s four movements teem with lyricism."
Gil French, Fanfare Magazine (Issue 46:6 (July/Aug 2023) writes: "String Quartet No. 1, “Ellen at Scattergood.” by James K. Wright [is a] substantial, lyrical work ... The first movement is a clever, involving, lyrical fugato in three-quarter time, followed by a pastoral, meditative, legato Adagio ... The Andara foursome illuminate the music beautifully. The second movement is like Barber’s Adagio minus the climax. It’s Sostenuto e espressivo with a touch of Appalachian Spring. The players make it very comforting. Wright’s brief Scherzo tarantella ... [is] played very well. The finale is a Rondo that’s essentially a lovely lyrical waltz."
Huntley Dent, Fanfare Magazine (Issue 46:5, May/June 2023) writes: [Ellen at Scattergate is] skillfully written [and] its Rondo finale is particularly captivating ... Wright’s ingenious variation on a Viennese waltz is totally engaging and fresh."
Review by Israbox (Romania): https://www.isrbx.net/3138003586-quatuor-andara-de-mille-feux-2022-hi-res.html
ABOUT THE ALBUM
"Les quatre complices du Quatuor Andara font briller de mille feux leurs cordes virtuoses à travers un répertoire musical énergique, lumineux et passionné, parcourant une variété de styles et d’atmosphères sonores aussi surprenantes que séduisantes." ["The four virtuosi of the Andara Quartet shine brilliantly through an energetic, luminous and passionate musical repertoire, traversing a variety of styles and sound atmospheres as surprising as they are seductive."] https://odyscene.com/programmation/quatuor-andara/
I – Introduzione, fugato and dolce cantabile (6’38″): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRQF3YeRQrY or click the play button below:
II – Molto sostenuto e expressivo (5’11”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ67Oc8nvik or click the play button below:
III – Scherzo-tarantella (2’42”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsSmNBlIEV0&pbjreload=101 or click the play button below:
IV – Adagio e rondo ballabile (5’45”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd1lY-aILjQ or click the play button below:
Briefe an die unsterbliche Geliebte / Letters to the Immortal Beloved (Counterpoint Music), for baritone (or mezzo-soprano) and piano trio.
Settings of excerpts from Beethoven’s letters to the “Immortal Beloved.” See also https://jkennethwright.com/immortal-beloved/
I. “Wo ich bin, bist du mit mir” (“Wherever I am, you are there with me”)
II. “Mein Engel” (“My Angel”)
III. “Meine unsterbliche Geliebte” (“My Immortal Beloved”)
Recordings: (1) Featured on 2019 CD “Immortal and Beloved” (Analekta B07LC2J7VG) by baritone David Pike and the Gryphon Trio (recorded at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, Kingston): https://www.analekta.com/en/albums/beethoven-wright-immortal-and-beloved/; (2) Featured on 2015 CD “Elements Eternal” (Naxos 8.573533) by mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah and the Gryphon Trio (recorded at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto): http://www.naxos.com/feature/Elements_Eternal.asp
Dedication: For Julie Nesrallah and the Gryphon Trio, and for all of our Immortals Beloved
Interview: Wright-Nesrallah Immortal Beloved – Fassinate 2013 (pp 8-9)
Premiere performance: July 27, 2012, Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival (mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah, and the Gryphon Trio – Annalee Patipatanakoon, Roman Borys, Jamie Parker).
Other noteworthy performances: Briefe an die unsterbliche Geliebte has been performed on five continents, including performances by baritone David John Pike and the Artisan Trio in Edinburgh, Scotland (March 28, 2024); Tehila-Nini-Goldstein (mezzo-soprano), Han-Wen Jennifer Yu (piano), Mayu Tomotaki (violin), Yu-Hsuan Feng (cello) (Palais Lichtenau, Potsdam, Germany (June 2, 2022); Julie Nesrallah and the New World Trio, Escola de Música e Artes Cênicas, Goiania, Brazil (November 1, 2013); Mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah and the Gryphon Trio, Koerner Hall, University of Toronto (September 29th, 2014); Zhao Shuguang (baritone) and Wang Tianyang (piano), Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China (July 6, 2016); David John Pike (Luxembourg,www.davidjohnpike.com), pianist Maxim Bernard, violinist Marjolaine Lambert, cellist Tim McCoy, Ottawa Choral Society Series, March 24, 2017; David John Pike, pianist David Briggs, violinist José Pereira, cellist Miguel Fernandes, recorded live at Igreja da Lapa, Oporto, Portugal (July 15, 2017), posted on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6emxQD-j2iQ; mezzo-soprano Briana Elyse Hunter (http://www.brianaelysehunter.com/), 7:00 pm, Sunday, November 12, 2017, Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church, Detroit, Michigan; baritone David J. Pike, pianist James Wright, violinist Aisling O'Dea, cellist Clea Friend, McPherson Recital Hall, St. Andrews, Scotland, March 28, 2024.
Published reviews: Visit https://jkennethwright.com/immortal-beloved/
Every Deed, Every Day (Vancouver, Cypress Choral Music, 2024), for SSA choir with piano and flute accompaniment
A setting of texts by UK poet Fiona Halliday. Written for Our Lady of Wisdom School, Orleans, Ontario.
Quilled Sonnet (Toronto, Frederick Harris Music Co., 2019), for soprano with piano accompaniment
From a cycle of three “Odes to Music” for high soprano with piano accompaniment, written in collaboration with Canadian author Stephen Michael Berzensky.
To Young Canadians (Vancouver: Cypress Music, 2013), for choir with piano or string orchestra accompaniment
Also available for SATB/piano, SAB/piano and SSA/piano, and in an arrangement for full orchestra and choir)
See: http://www.cypresschoral.com/Canada/Composers/WrightJames.html and https://jkennethwright.com/to-young-canadians/
Music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_GKyaJ-gEo&list=UUcC2xPpy__G6AiQ22pFT2rw
Dedication: “In memory of the life and legacy of Jack Layton. For The Leading Note Foundation and their Orkidstra and Kidsingers programs”
Premiere performance: On September 29, 2012, the Honorable Olivia Chow was presented with an Ottawa Peace Award, posthumously, for Jack Layton, her late husband. “To Young Canadians” was written for the occasion at the request of the Leading Note Foundation, as a tribute to Layton, whose message it aims to spread through the universal language of music. Its text is a lyrical adaptation of excerpts from the “Letter to Canadians” that Layton penned two days prior to this death on August 22, 2011. It was first performed by instrumentalists and choristers from The Leading Note Foundation’s OrKidstra and Kidsingers programs, the Brookfield High School Choir, the Ottawa Childrens Choir, the Cantiamo Choir, directed by Jackie Hawley, Margaret Tobolowska and Jeannie Hunter.
Other noteworthy performances: “To Young Canadians” was also featured CBC National’s “Music Monday” broadcast (Monday, May 5, 2014), and at a “Canada Day” performance by 350 singers from across Canada (the “Unisong” Choir), accompanied by Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, on July 1st 2014, National Arts Centre, Ottawa.
How Brightly Beams the Morning Star! (Vancouver: Cypress Music, 2022), for SSA(A) or SATB choir with piano or organ accompaniment.
Dedication: “For Matthew Larkin, and the Caelis Academy Ensemble.”
A Gallery of Song: Spirit of the Land (Ottawa, Songwright Music, 2002), for SSAA choir
I. Tangled Garden (J.E.H. McDonald);
II. Untitled (Franklin Carmichael);
III. Mill Houses (A.J. Casson);
V. Summer Day (A.Y. Jackson);
VI. Bright Land (Arthur Lismer);
VII. Scorned as Timber, Beloved of the Sky (Emily Carr);
VIII Moonlight at Lynn (Frederic Varley);
IX. Snow (Lawren Harris)
Commissioned by: Bill and Jean Teron, and the Kanata Children’s Chorus
Decription: This nine-movement work (settings of youth poetry inspired by the works of the Group of Seven) was premiered at the McMichael Gallery (Group of Seven collection), Kleinburg (Toronto), Ontario, in the Spring of 2003. Fully choreographed performances were given at the National Gallery of Canada on June 24, 2007, and at the National Arts Centre Theatre on June 7th, 2014. See Nick Ward’s article/interview are http://carleton.ca/fass/2014/carleton-composer-pays-tribute-group-seven-nac-performance/.
Interview:Musica Classica,” June 4th, 2014), featuring 5 musical excerpts, can be heard at MUSICA CLASSICA – JUNE 4 PART 2 and MUSICA CLASSICA – JUNE 4 PART 1.
Other noteworthy performances: The U.S. premiere performance of “A Gallery of Song” was given by Luke McEndarfer and the National Children’s Chorus (USA) at the Los Angeles Broad Stage Theatre on Friday, March 21, 2014. “The NCC was honored to perform and premiere this beautiful music,” maestro McEndarfer wrote. “Lyrical, nostalgic, adventurous and heartfelt, the piece takes performers and audience members on a vivid Canadian journey, immediately forming an emotional bond among everyone in the room, while dutifully mirroring the Group of Seven’s inspired images with sound. Our students loved every moment of preparing the piece, which was received at Santa Monica’s Broad Stage with great acclaim!”
