Carol Ann Weaver

Composer

Website • Wikipedia

Contact — caweaver@uwaterloo.ca

Bio

Carol Ann Weaver is an eclectic composer, pianist, who was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA, and is now a Canadian Citizen, living in Waterloo, Ontario.   Her genre-bending music, performed and aired throughout Canada, USA, Europe, Africa, Korea and Paraguay, results in new fusions of roots and art music, often environmentally themed and coloured by African music. Her eight CDs, Poland Parables, Paraguay Primeval,  Every 3 Children, Thistle & Jewel, Awakenings, Dancing Rivers, Journey Begun, and Daughter of Olapa include songs and soundscapes for those whose stories speak of struggle and hope  – African AIDS-infected children, victims of wars and atrocities, people whose stories need to be told.  Besides jazz ensemble work, she composes for orchestra, piano/vocal, choir, chamber ensembles, turntablist, often incorporating multimedia, electroacoustic, spoken word, dramatic and dance elements.  Recent work in South Africa resulted in her orchestral composition, Kgalagadi Calls, played by Kwa-Zulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in Durban. Critics laud her work for its blending of cultural voices and its embrace of varied styles.   As a composer, she is a member of the Canadian Music Centre which houses and distributes her compositions.  She has made frequent trips to Durban, South Africa to perform, compose and research, and has routinely brought University of Waterloo (Canada) students to UKZN in Durban, South Africa, for a travel/study course.  Carol regularly performs and records with well known Canadian vocalist Rebecca Campbell, touring together throughout Canada, USA including Hawaii, Europe, South Africa and South Korea where they performed in a temple festival in CheonAn.

Having taught at Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia, Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg, Canada, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Univeristy of Waterloo in Ontario, she is Professor Emerita at Conrad Grebel College/University of Waterloo, having retired July, 2014, where she taught composition, theory, jazz, women and music, and African music.

She has led three Sound in the Land festivals, the most recent being Sound in the Land – Music and the Environment Festival/Conference (June 5 – 8, 2014, at Grebel/UWaterloo) https://uwaterloo.ca/grebel/sound-land-2014  at which keynote speakers were Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer and South African carnivore researcher Gus Mills.  The upcoming (2015) publication will include essays presented at this conference.  Her recent book, Departure and Return, (Waterloo: Stonegarden Studios, 2014) gives perspectives on growing up in a Mennonite setting, leaving for Africa, and returning.  An avid canoeist, wilderness camper, and traveller, she has made countless field recordings of natural sounds from Canada’s Cerulean Warblers to Kalahari’s Barking Geckos, many of which find their way into her music.  She is Chair of ACWC, Association of Canadian Women Composers, and Secretary of CASE, Canadian Association of Sound Ecology http://www.soundecology.ca/

List of Works

Choral

All available via caweaver@uwaterloo.ca or via indicated publisher.

Check the full composition list and see list of compositions published by Canadian Music Centre (CMC).

Choral texts by Carol Ann Weaver, unless otherwise indicated.

SATB

Desert Alleluia (2018) — SATB

  • Premiered by Rockway Choir, CAW, piano & conductor, Kitchener, 2018.  Soundscape by CAW from her recordings from Kalahari Desert, 2018

Generous Land (2017) — SATB (3:31). Publisher: Cypress Choral Music

  • Premiered by Renaissance Singers, Gordon Burnett, cond., Kitchener, 2017

Dawn Chorus (2017) — SATB with string orchestra and Georgian Bay soundscape (3:31)

  • Premiered, Whispering River Choir/orchestra, Catherine Maguire, cond., Parry Sound, June 17, 2017

West Wind (2017) — SATB with string orchestra (5:21)

  • Premiered, Whispering River Choir/orchestra, Catherine Maguire, cond., Parry Sound, June 17, 2017

Georgian Bay (2017) — SATB with string orchestra (4:07)

  • Premiered, Whispering River Choir/orchestra, Catherine Maguire, cond., Parry Sound, June 17, 2017

Earth Peace – A Mass for our Time (2016) — SATB a cappella (12:00)

  • A set of eight pieces with Latin and English texts – Gloria, Laudamus, Dona Nobis, Kyrie, Agnus Dei, Lux Aeterna, Peace for the Planet, Ringing Peace premiered by UW University Choir, Gerard Jun, cond. and performed multiple times in Parry Sound, Kitchener, and Edmonton

Every Three Children (2006) — SATB, piano, optional hand drums, guitar (3:47).

  • Anthem for African AIDS children. Score: CMC. CD: Every 3 Children, Grebel Choir, Leonard Enns, cond.

Lobsang (2006) — SATB, piano (4:57). In memory of 5 Amish girls.

  • Score with composer. CD: Every 3 Children (as above) and Praise Song, Rosthern Choirs, 2007, Richard Janzen, cond.

Dancing Dancing River (2001) — SATB a cappella (3:00).

  • Publisher: Kellman Hall CDs: How Can I keep from Singing, Grebel Choir, Leonard Enns, cond.; Faith and Life Choral Festival 2002, Henry Engbrecht, cond.

Shall We (1997) — SATB a cappella (7:31). Gospel feel. Score: CMC . YouTube: Laurier Singers, Lee Willingham, cond.

Spirit Yet Known (1996) — SATB a cappella (8:00). Score with composer.

Our Prayer (1993) — SATB, piano (7:52). (Text, Judith Miller) Publisher: CMC

Spirit Dance (1988) — SATB, piano, optional mandolin (12:05). Publisher: Mennonite Conference of North America.

Creator Spirit (1986) — SATB a cappella (4:55). Publisher: CMC

Psalm 57 (1981) — SATB, piano (15:00). Score with composer. Vinyl: Goshen College Choir, 1982

Worthy the Lamb (1980) — SATB, piano (14:45). Score with composer.

Tower of Babel (1972) — SATB a cappella (6:56). Score with composer.

SSA

African Night (2017) — SSA with string orchestra and African soundscape (2:42).

  • Premiered, Whispering River Choir/orchestra, Catherine Maguire, cond., Parry Sound, June 17, 2017

Dancing, Dancing River (2014/1988) — SSA, piano (4:05). Score with composer.

  • CD: Sound in the Land 2014 Choral Concert, Inter-Mennonite Children’s Choir, Carolyn Neumann VanderBurgh, cond. Chestnut Hall Music.

How Can We Know (2001) — SSA, piano (5:02).Written on the day of 9/11, Score with composer. CD: Every 3 Children (listed above)

Dancing, Dancing River (2014/1988) — SSA, piano (4:05). Score with composer.

  • CD: Sound in the Land 2014 Choral Concert, Inter-Mennonite Children’s Choir, Carolyn Neumann VanderBurgh, cond. Chestnut Hall Music.

How Can We Know (2001) — SSA, piano (5:02). Written on the day of 9/11, Score with composer. CD: Every 3 Children (listed above)

Wings of a Dove (2003) — SSAA a cappella (8:47). Score with composer.

  • DaCapo Chamber Choir, Leonard Enns, cond.

Forest Country (1994) SSA — piano, optional guitar, percussion (8:40). Publisher: CMC

Liberator (1982) — SA, piano (3:25). Publisher: Waterloo Music.

CDs

Largely featuring solo vocal music. All texts by Weaver unless otherwise indicate. Also see https://carolannweaver.com/cds-2/

CD: SONGS FOR MY MOTHER (2018) — Mary-Catherine Pazzano, vocals; CAW, piano; Willem Moolenbeek, saxophones; Ben Bolt Martin, cello; Andrew Chung, violin; Jana Skarecky, didgeridoo (Lorac Productions 027)

CD: PARAGUAY PRIMEVAL (2012) — Rebecca Campbell, vocals; CAW, piano; Emma Elkinson, flute; Ben Bolt Martin, cello; Kyle Skillman, drums; David Travers-Smith, recording engineer  (Lorac Productions 026)

CD: EVERY 3 CHILDREN (2007) — Rebecca Campbell, vocals; CAW, piano; Mageshen Naidoo, guitar; Ben Bolt-Martin, cello; Mark Duggan, percussion; Emma Elkinson, flute; Leonard Enns & Conrad Grebel Chapel Choir; David Travers-Smith, recording engineer (Lorac Productions 025)

CD: THISTLE & JEWEL (2006) — Rebecca Campbell, vocals; CAW, piano; David Travers-Smith, recording engineer (Lorac Productions 024)

CD: AWAKENINGS (2003) — Co-produced with Rebecca Campbell, featuring collaborative Weaver/Campbell composition based on text of Di Brandt and Dorothy Livesay.  Campbell, voc; Weaver, pno; Jane Siberry, Mia Sheard, Jennifer Moore , vocals, Lyle Friesen, mandolin; David Travers-Smith, recording engineer.

CD: DANCING RIVERS – From South Africa to Canada (2001) — Natalie Rungan, Thandeka Mazibuko, Rebecca Campbell, voc,; Mageshen Naidoo, gt; Bongoni  Sokhela, bass; Jeff Robinson, sax; Maggie Deppe, oboe; Lebohang Methebeng & Jean Martin, dr; Weaver, piano; recorded SABC Studios, S. Africa; completed, Toronto

CD: JOURNEY BEGUN (1999) — Cate Friesen, voc.; Weaver, piano; John Gzowski, guitar; Jeremy Kurtz, bass; Modern (String) Quartet

CD: DAUGHTER OF OLAPA – THE MUSIC OF CAROL ANN WEAVER (1996) — Ardeleana Ensemble, singers Margaret Hull & Nancy DeLong; Weaver, pno

Tape: TIMBREL IN HER HAND (1988) — Margaret Hull, soprano; Dorothy Bowman, Margaret Hull, readers; Lyle Friesen, mandolin, Weaver, pno., programming

Other Vocal

Songs for My Mother (2017) — set of six songs for mezzo-soprano and piano (text Miriam L. Weaver).

  • Premiered, Eastern Mennonite University, June 24, 2017, Marge Maust, mezzo; CAW, pno.

Blue Green Planet (2015) — vocals, piano (text John Weier). 

  • Rebecca Campbell, voc; CAW, pno; Conrad Grebel Chapel/UW, Sept. 16 and 18, 2015.

Sea and Sand (2009) — vocals, flute, violin, cello, piano. 

  • Rebecca Campbell, voc; CAW, pno; Ann Lindsay, violin; Emma Elkinson, flute; Ben Bolt-Martin, cello, Conrad Grebel Chapel/UW, March 4, 2009

Constellations (2001) — vocals, piano, oboe, guitar, bass (text CAW/Giselle Turner). 

  • Natalie Rungan, voc; CAW, pno; Mageshen Naidoo, g; Maggie Deppe, oboe;Bongani Sokehla, bass; Howard College Theatre, U. of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, S. Af, May, 2001

My Crazy Heart (2001) — vocals, piano, guitar, bass (text Giselle Turner).

  • Natalie Rungan, voc; CAW, pno; Mageshen Naidoo, gt; Bongani Sokehla, bass; Bruce Baker, dr; Alliance Francaise, Durban, S. Af,  June 1, 2001

Moss Flowers (1989) — soprano and piano (text Judith Miller). 

  • Wendy Humphries, sop;, John Greer, pno., at Sharon Festival, Sharon Temple, Ontario,  July 16, 1989.  Recorded, broadcast by CBC Radio.

Afterday (1984) — soprano, reader, tape, electronic piano, synthesizer, visuals (text Judith Miller and David Waltner-Toews). 

  • Iraina Neufeld, sop.; Wendalyn Bartley, reader; CAWeaver, keys; ACREC Festival U/Quebec, Montreal, May 4, 1985

Five Voices of Earth (1983) — tenor, mandolin, piano (text Henry Thoreau).

  • Michael Lenz, tenor; Lyle Friesen, mandolin; CAWeaver, piano.  Wilfrid Laurier University, March 27, 1983.

Orchestral

The Blessing (2012/2017) — soprano saxophone and string orchestra.

  • Performed by Ukrainian Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mykola Diadiura, with Gaetano Di Bacco, saxophonist, in Kiev, Ukraine at the Opera Theatre of Kiev, May 20, 2017; and Parry Sound, June 2017, Whispering River Orch.

Parry Soundings (2017) — string orchestra

  • Leaping Impala, Soaring Bateleur, Soul Dance, premiered, Whispering River Orchestra, Brenda Muller, cello, Catherine Maguire, cond., Parry Sound, June 17, 2017

Kgalagadi Calls (2011) — orchestra.

  • KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, Playhouse, Durban, SA, April 19, 2011: Waterloo Chamber Players Orchestra, June 6, 2014, Ben Bolt-Martin Cond, Humanities Theatre, UW

Water (2007) — orchestra.

  • Orchestra@uwaterloo, Erna Van Daele, cond,  Humanities Theatre, University of Waterloo, Nov. 29/07

Fourteen Women/Quatorze Femmes (1990) — jazz orchestra plus string players. 

  • Hemispheres Orchestra, Michael J. Baker, conductor, Music Gallery, Toronto, ON, November 24, 1990

Chamber

Earth Peace String Quartets (2016)

  • Wild Dog Dervishes I, II, III, Springbok Lament, East Timor, premiered at UWaterloo by Factory Arts Quartet, 2016

Spirit of the Skikine String Quartet (2016) –

  • She Chisels a Canyon through the Cassiars, She Dances with Timber Wolves, She Laments the Dying Dall Sheep, She Soars, with the Golden Eagle, She Chants for the Drying Land, She Pulses to the Pacific, premiered Emily Carr Quartet, Victoria, BC, Ap. 7, 2017

Soul Dance Solstice (2015) — solo cello. 

  • Brenda Muller, Straw House Gallery, Parry Sound, ON, June 20, 2015

The Leaving (2013) — soprano saxophone and piano.

  • Mary Petrich, soprano sax, CAWeaver, piano, Conrad Grebel Chapel, January 29, 2014

Three Seasons (2012) — flute, alto saxophone, cello, piano.

  • Meaghan McCracken, fl; Willem Moolenbeek, sax; Ben Bolt-Martin, cello; CAWeaver, piano, Conrad Grebel Chapel, October 31, 2012.  Includes three movements: Summer Silence, Autumn Dawn and Winter Prayers & Blessing.

All Night Beatrice (2007) — flute, cello, piano.

  • Ardelena Trio, Blue Bridge Festival, Sutton ON, June 9, 2007

Durban Seoul-Rock (2005) — two bass clarinets. 

  • Bass Impact (Tilly Kooyman/Katherine Ladano), World Bass Clarinet Convention, Rotterdam, Holland, October 23, 2005

Tsetse Fly Dance (2005) — piano, tenor sax, bass, drums.

  • CAWeaver, piano; Jeff Robinson, t. sax; Duane Nichol,  bass, Lebohang Methebeng, dr.  Jazz Centre, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, S. Af., June 8, 2005

Shoofly Dance (2005) — piano, turntables, percussion.

  • CAWeaver, piano; Mason Marchildon, turntables; Arun Pal, perc., Aird Centre, Wilfrid Laurier University, March 29, 2005

Jive Afrique (2003) — two pianos. 

  • Karin Redekopp Edwards and Mark Edwards, pianos, Bernsen Concert Series, Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 16, 2010.

Durban Durban (2000) — saxophone quartet, piano, bass, drums.

  • Mike Rossi, Milt Johnson, Simon Bates, Jeff Robinson, saxes; CAWeaver, pno; Bongani Sokehla, bass; Lebohang Mothebang, perc. Jazz Centre, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, S. Africa, April 5, 2000

Follow the Cheetah (2000) — saxophone quartet, piano, bass, drums.

  • Mike Rossi, Milt Johnson, Simon Bates, Jeff Robinson, saxes; CAWeaver, pno; Bongani Sokehla, bass; Lebohang Mothebang, perc. Jazz Centre, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, S. Africa, April 5, 2000    

Catharine Dance (1997) — piano trio (piano, vln, cello). Gallery Players, Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, ON.

Rites of Africa (1994) — flute, cello, piano. Ardeleana Trio, Conrad Grebel College Chapel, January 28, 1995. 

  • Heard here with Dumlavwalla-Deppe-Duo plus cello, 2015. Score with Canadian Music Centre. On Daughter of Olapa CD, 1995.

Fourteen Women/Quatorze Femmes (1990) — jazz orchestra plus string players. 

  • Hemispheres Orchestra, Michael J. Baker, conductor, Music Gallery, Toronto, ON, November 24, 1990 (also, see listing as “orchestral” above)

Otter Frolic (1988) — flute, cello, piano.

  • Ardeleana Trio, St. Andrews Church, Toronto,  December 10, 11, 1988.  On Daughter of Olapa CD, 1995.

Saltarella (1981/1986, 2013) — mandolin (or soprano saxophone) and piano.

  • Lyle Friesen, mandolin, CAWeaver, piano.  Harbourfront, Toronto, August, 1986.

God-Bearing (1985) — keyboards, mandolin, actor/dancer. 

  • Patricia White, dancer;  Lyle Friesen, mandolin; CAWeaver, keyboards, University Western Ontario, June 9, 1985

Song of a Dove: In Memoriam Frank Epp (1986) — 2 pianos (keyboards), percusssion. 

  • Grace Louis,  CAWeaver, keybds; Bill Hancock, percussion, Kitchener Auditorium, July 6, 1986

Armageddon and the Child (1984) — organ duo, commissioned by Marilyn Mason, University of Michigan.

Lyra (1983) — solo mandolin.

  • Neil Gladd, mandolin, Harvard University, American Music Week, November 2, 1986.  Published, Plucked Strings, 1988    

The Algonquin Trilogy:

Algonquin Dawn (1989) electric mandolin, electric mandolin, DX7 and DX11 synthesizers, ocarina. 

  • Lyle Friesen, mandolin; Robert Norris, guitar; CAWeaver, synthesizers, orcarina, Fifth Stream Festival, WLU, May 4, 1989.  Recorded and broadcast on “Two New Hours”, CBC

Algonquin Noon (1986) — three percussionists and DX7 synthesizer. 

  • Carol Bauman, Lori West, Andrea McColman, percussion;  CAWeaver, DX7, Princess Cinema, Waterloo, ON, March 18, 1988

Algonquin Night (1982) — clarinet, mandolin, viola, cello, piano, percussion. 

  • ARRAYMUSIC, Winchester Street Theatre*, Toronto, February 11, 12, 1984

Procession (1982/2015) — mandolin, guitar, piano. 

  • Lyle Friesen, mandolin; Bob Norris, guitar; CAWeaver, pno, recorded for A.R.C. Industries Documentary on Rogers Cable TV, 1982.  (Revised in 2015)                       

Streams (1981) — alto saxophone and piano. 

  • Douglas Pullen, sax; CAWeaver, piano, Theatre-Auditorium, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, January 7, 1982

City Primeval (1978) — 2 violins, oboe, clarinet, percussion, bass guitar, piano. 

  • Margie Chapman, Lee Wilkins, vlns; Larry Masterson, ob; Randy Cunningham, cl., Everett Sparks, bass; Adrienne Wilcox,Tom Boston, perc; CAWeaver, piano; Paul Emata, conductor, Indiana University, August 5, 1980

Ad Cappellam Fortem (1974) — 4 pianos, percussion.

  • CAWeaver piano; Dave Garber, percussion; others, Science Hall, Eastern Mennonite College, (now EMU) January 16, 1975

Beyond Soundless Stars (1973) — prepared piano and tape. 

  • CAWeaver piano, Eastern Mennonite College, (now EMU) January 13, 1974

Electroacoustic

Earth Voices (2015) — readers, electroacousic soundscape, and visuals, featuring writings about the earth by 24 Mennonite writers from North and South America, Middle East, and Africa.

  • Fresno Pacific University* Mar. 13, 2015  Goshen College, Goshen, IN, April  9, 2015, Mennonite World Conference, Harrisburg, PA, July 24, 2015, Noon Hour Concert, Grebel Chapel/UW, Sept. 16, 2015         

Asunción to Chaco (2010) on “Paraguay Primeval” CD

Behind Bars (2008) — with field recordings from Durban, South Africa

Early and Late Garden (1989) — dance.

  • Louise Azzerello, choreographer, at UW Dance Concert, Theater of the Arts, 22, 23, 1989

In Flight (1987) — dance

  • Paula Ravitz, choreographer,  at Trickster Arts Festival, UWaterloo, February, 1987

Pumps ’n Power (1985) — dance

  • Conrad Alexandrowicz, choreographer at Inde ’85 Dance Festival, Music Gallery, Toronto, Oct. 18, 25, 27, 1985; and heard on CBC, The Journal, November, 1985

Afterday (1984) — soprano, reader, tape, electronic piano, synthesizer, visuals. 

  • Iraina Neufeld, sop; Wendalyn Bartley, reader; CAWeaver, keys; ACREC Festival U/Quebec, Montreal, May 4, 1985

Record Label, Publishers

Cypress Choral Music, Lorac Productions; Kellman Hall, Canadian Music Centre, Pandora Press; Waterloo Music, University of Waterloo Press; Stonegarden Studios.