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Notes of the North

Brianna Dai

Welcome to Notes of the North Talks, a series where we get to know nationwide Canadian composer talent. Hosted by Brianna Dai, we serve as a bridge for knowledge, spotlighting composers' lives and one-of-a-kind music ♫

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  • 20 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 28 min
  • English

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Episodes 20

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  • S4 · E8
    February 17 · 21 min

    The Composer's Responsibility: A Talk with Cris Derksen

    Juno-nominated composer and cellist Cris Derksen talks using composition to shine light on what we should look at as a society, being about the “feel,” and so much more! Featured music: Round Dance Instrumental Powwow Rhapsody Mozart's Ghost Improvisations on the Sunset New Women Song

    • Transcript
  • S4 · E7
    February 3 · 30 min

    Sound Freaks and Sensuality: A Talk with Rodney Sharman

    Rodney Sharman talks being a "sound freak", the unique sounds of Toronto, Montréal, and the West Coast, his incredible volunteer and advocacy work, what is at the heart of artistic change, and much more! Featured music: Incantation Missing You Known and Unknown Three Songs

    • Transcript
  • S4 · E6
    January 20 · 28 min

    What Unfolds in Time: A Talk with Luke Blackmore

    Newfoundlander Luke Blackmore talks his process of how rhythm is everything, overcoming writer's block, music with fog, and much more! Featured music: Something Sawed Spectral Chorale

    • Transcript
  • S4 · E5
    January 6 · 28 min

    Humans First, Tech Second: A Talk with Keiko Devaux

    Keiko Devaux (joined by a special guest) talks being honest with your sound, composition as much more than the final piece, the problems of even having a "sound", and so much more! Featured music: L’écoute du perdu : III. « Voix jetées »

    • Transcript
  • S4 · E4
    Dec 20, 2025 · 26 min

    Rhythm, Patterns, Timbre: A Talk with Jascha Narveson

    Jascha Narveson talks growing up surrounded by vinyls, being captivated by the technology rather than the instruments in the room, being a listener rather than a composer, the rewarding process of collaborating with dancers, and much more! Featured music: Soundpaper roll two, 8Bit Elf Coffe Shop - 5 minute excerpt In Line (PLOrk Sideband) Flash Crash action/reaction (BounceBounce) Late_Night_Project 100 | night swim Late_Night_Project 101 | shortburst Late_Night_Project 102 | newmood Late_Night_Project 106 | gates Late_Night_Project 103 | wheel Late_Night_Project 104 | hall Late_Night_Project 107 | burrs

    • Transcript
  • S4 · E3
    Dec 2, 2025 · 29 min

    “Everything good begins with a question”: A Talk with Andrew Staniland

    Andrew Staniland talks providing good questions rather than good answers, caution in bringing in the outside world through electronics, writing music only for friends, and much more! Featured works: Adventuremusic - Toca Loca True North The Laws of Nature

    • Transcript
  • S4 · E2
    Nov 18, 2025 · 30 min

    Music for the People: A Talk with Daniel Pelton

    Boundary-pushing, community-oriented, genre-blurring composer Daniel Pelton hails from Calgary, Alberta. Join us as we talk finding the fun in live concert, music for the people, the necessity in putting yourself out into the world and “doing the thing,” and much more! Featured works: Long Time No Time - Get Up Get Down live at The Palomino Frank Zappa Roxy The Movie - T'Mershi Duween For S. - The Daniel Pelton Collective 34902 - 32407 Prelude - Letters from Taylor Prelude and Jig - The Daniel Pelton Collective Sweet Child O’ Mine - Letters from Taylor All Along the Watchtower - Letters from Taylor Why - Letters from Taylor

    • Transcript
  • S4 · E1
    Nov 4, 2025 · 47 min

    Every Story Has its Sound: A Talk with Ryan Shore

    Ryan Shore talks his writing process and "throwing down the clay", the two-way street of music, the true skills needed to succeed, improvisation's influence in his work, and so much more! Featured works: Odd's Victory Numb The Parents First Solo Flight News on the March Mike, Amy and Carver Rex Steele Main Theme Full Suite Ahead Allumette Arden's Wake Floyd's Theme

    • Transcript
  • S3 · E8
    Feb 15, 2025 · 25 min

    "Chasing the Thrill of Inspiration": A Talk with Matthew Emery

    Dr. Matthew Emery talks the intricacies of writing for voice, “honest music,” removing unnecessary pitches, the relevance of Canadian choral music, finding great inspiration in the little atmospheric details, mentorship coming full circle, and much more! Featured music: Walk Safely Over Soft Places From Dewy Dreams, My Soul Arise Mist trapped in the trees Lead Us Home

    • Transcript
  • S3 · E7
    Feb 1, 2025 · 28 min

    Sketching the Soul: A Talk with Kevin Lau

    Composer Kevin Lau talks his composition ideation and sketching process in comparison with an author’s, conveying the universality of hardship and healing through music, how music moves through time, consideration of the collaborator, the idea of “deep connection amidst surface diversity,” responding to your authentic intuition, and so much more! Featured music: Under a Veil of Stars

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  • S3 · E6
    Jan 18, 2025 · 26 min

    Glitched Memories & Musical Invention: A Talk with Nicole Lizée

    2024 JUNO winner Nicole Lizée talks coffee-fuelled composition rituals, being born into an immersive malfunctioning technological environment, visuals fully embedded in coexistence with music as a member of the ensemble, favourite and most precious equipment, conversations rather than answers, and much more! Featured music: This Will Not Be Televised (2007) RPM

    • Transcript
  • S3 · E5
    Jan 4, 2025 · 22 min

    Capturing the Wild: A Talk with Matthias McIntire

    Dr. Matthias McIntire talks finding pieces of unfinished pieces, taking inspiration from animals, the process of field recording, and more! Featured music: Mysterious Island Seaside Town Earthbound and Skyward for solo piano Komqwejwi'kasikl 3 Old Water Cathedral Grove (and the Gray Jay)

    • Transcript
  • S3 · E4
    Dec 21, 2024 · 34 min

    Composing Chocolate that Connects: A Talk with Maxime Goulet

    Juno-winning video game and concert composer Maxime Goulet talks his background in rock combo, importance of sensory experience, composing what you like rather than others, and much more! Featured works: Maxime Goulet: Symphonic Chocolates Ice Storm Symphony, I. Turmoil

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  • S3 · E3
    Dec 14, 2024 · 24 min

    Chido, Competitions, & Cinematic Soundscapes: A Talk with Luis Ramirez

    Luis Ramirez talks his unique take on folklore in music, the role of competitions in the life of a musician, the strengths and challenges of diversity, and much more. Featured music: Chido, for symphony orchestra Leaven, for string quartet Picante, for symphony orchestra

    • Transcript
  • S3 · E2
    Nov 30, 2024 · 22 min

    When Words Escape, Song Remains: A Talk with Lavinia Kell Parker

    Choral and concert composer Lavinia Kell Parker talks her background in church music, music as a shared experience, the idea of "comprovisation," and much more! Featured music: Other Names for Birds, Audio Excerpt (Penderecki String Quartet/Lavinia Kell Parker) Soli Deo Gloria Crawford Road

    • Transcript
  • S3 · E1
    Nov 16, 2024 · 21 min

    Finding Something from Nothing: A Talk with Roydon Tse

    Composer and educator Roydon Tse talks musical and conceptual balance between Eastern and Western, the intersection of traditional and contemporary, and much more! Featured works: Radiant Light

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  • S2 · E8
    Jun 6, 2024 · 20 min

    Tripartite Thinking: A Talk with Dinuk Wijeratne

    Dinuk Wijeratne talks composing for the performers rather than the listener, the tripartite relationship of creation, the exciting future of concert programming, and more! Featured music: Gajaga Vannama

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