April 2025

This playlist features collaborative duos between musician moms. Born out of the unique circumstances of 2020-21, each duo starts from the same electronic track, composed by Zosha Di Castri. The invited musicians were asked to record improvisations to this track (some included additional electronics of their own), Zosha then adds a piano improvisation in response, and edits everything together into a unique, new composition. 

These duos are featured on the B-side episodes of the podcast "The Dream Feed: Musicians on Motherhood", which features conversations between musicians on their experiences navigating the seemingly incompatible worlds of professional music and motherhood. 

To learn more about this project or to follow the podcast visit:
www.thedreamfeedpodcast.com

This project was made possible by a generous grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Participants so far have included:
Olivia De Prato: https://www.oliviadeprato.com
Pauchi Sasaki: https://www.pauchi.com
Alice Teyssier: https://www.aliceteyssier.com
Chloé Dominguez: https://www.chloedominguez.info/

And coming up next:
Aiyun Huang: https://www.aiyunhuang.com

For more information on Zosha Di Castir's work see:
http://www.zoshadicastri.com

1_The Dream Feed_Olivia De Prato/Vienna and Zosha Di Castri/NYC_June8 2021

A fun, energetic polka that brings to mind a barn dance or outdoor garden party, written by Island composer Natalie Williams Calhoun for the Atlantic String Machine's 'The Harris Project'.

Rochford Square Polka

Michelle Colton, vibraphone
Angela Schwarzkopf, harp
(archival recording) 

check out the studio recording of 'Garden' on Angela Schwarzkopf's album 'detach' on Redshift Records! https://redshiftrecords.org/releases/tk472/

Garden (for vibraphone and harp)

Summer Storm

"Kingsburg Blues," a mesmerizing track from Gina Burgess' debut album "ISNOW," embarks on a musical odyssey, blending psychedelic elements with Celtic and Inuit roots.This trancy composition features Gina Burgess's violin and Cynthia Pitsulak's contemporary Inuit throat singing. Also featured is the Angolan instrument, the berimbau, played by Ross Burns. Double bass is played by Jordan Stephens and Matt Gallant is on the drum kit.
This piece immerses the audience in a hypnotizing sound experience. Inspired by the coastal landscape of the south shore of Nova Scotia, this piece was whispered to Gina by the rose bush faeries who reside there. 
“Kingsburg Blues” is a musical portal which transports the listener to another realm, the realm of the Fae folk. Where time is liminal and space ethereal. This piece is an expression of overlapping dimensional realities.

Kingsburg Blues Radio Edit

Original Music Recorded by Fionaliza (Fiona Elizabeth Armstrong)

Audio Engineer: Julian Bertino Sound

Album Art Photographer: Authentic Living Photography

Magnolia

Writing this, I was looking out at a snow covered field and the clear blue sky, feeling tranquil. This is the audio representation of that feeling!

Tranquil Blue Sky - spa

About three months ago, I had the privilege of writing a piece for the Orpheus Choir of Toronto under the baton of Robert Cooper in association with the Diaspora Dialogues. After months of hard work and dedication, the choir was able to bring my work to life in the most spectacular way during their concert #RaisingHerVoice. I'm so excited to share their performance and thank them once again for this memorable night! Congratulations to the choristers, the instrumentalists, directors, composers, and especially to the poet, Shadi Eskandani! Chapeau! 

(P.S. My grandmother would have been proud!)

-- 

Il y a trois mois, j'ai eu le privilège de composer une pièce pour la chorale Orpheus de Toronto sous la direction musicale de Robert Cooper et en association avec les Dialogues Diaspora. Après plusieurs mois de travail, la chorale a réussi à donner vie à ma musique lors de leur concert Raising Her Voice. Un gros merci aux choristes, instrumentalistes, directeurs, compositrices et à la poète Shadi Eskandani! Chapeau!

A Prayer For Return - Anika-France

Recorded Live at the Rolston Recital Hall, October 18th, 2019 as part of the Musicians in Residence Program at the Banff Centre concert series.

Inni means Bison in Blackfoot. This song was composed about the presence and disappearance of the Bison on the plains. The composition was supported by the Coastal Jazz Society Indigenous Artist in Residence in 2017.

Flute, Alto Flute - Jessica McMann
Viola - Karen Shepherd
Piano - Beverley McKiver
Composer: Jessica McMann

Recording: The Banff Centre for the Arts

Inni

composer: Marie-Claire Saindon
performers: National Youth Orchestra Canada
Recording (album): Migrations
publisher: Cypress Choral Music

visit https://cypresschoral.com to study the score while you listen

Buy the sheet music

Terre Neuve - SATB - by Marie-Claire Saindon

Association of Canadian Women Composers

The ACWC is a professional organization for Canadian women composers, their supporters, and the performers of their music.

April 2025

ACWC / ACC