Nathaniel Dett's piano work Juba arranged for concert band
University of Manitoba Wind Ensemble
Available on CD -- North Winds V

Juba --Dett/Tran-Adams

I learned this song in a Catholic elementary school. I went to a school that was predominantly Italian and learned to sing it in Italian and I've always loved it. I've recently come across it again but translated into Irish, which is my own language. Sung here by the choir at Church of the Messiah in Toronto, Canada.

Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle (arr. M. Tran-Adams)

A piece I co-wrote at a workshop. The three of us discussed our backgrounds and decided to improvise this piece using a traditional Tamil song and a traditional Irish song. I'm also playing electric harp. 

Tamil-Irish Improvisation with electric harp

A simple and beautiful song from my favourite Japanese anime show xxxHolic. Don't ask me why it's spelled like that ...it's not what you think. 

Deja View (from Japanese anime xxxHolic)

Seo é 'Machnamh as Gaeilge' ag úsaid seanfhocail go ailínigh leis an timthriall sa leabhar, "Active Hope." 
This is an Irish Meditation using Irish proverbs that aligns with the cycle in the book, "Active Hope."

This song and meditation follows 4 stations of "The Spiral of the Work that Reconnects" as found it the book "Active Hope" by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone. This cycle, "...maps out and empowerment process that journeys through four successive movements ...Gratitude, Honouring Our Pain for the World, Seeing with New Eyes, and Going Forth."

Machnamh as Gaeilge (Irish Meditation)

Assignment #3 for my Jazz Course at Berklee College.

Matthew Tran-Adams's Album

500 Miles High

A bossa piece by Carla Bley that I recorded for my Berklee Jazz course.

Olhos De Gato (Eyes of the Cat)

The music for 'Not So Grimm' centres around a theme for music box. Although the music box is never heard alone, I thought I would provide the solo track here. It was interesting to compose for a real music box.
Matthew Tran-Adams, composer

Not So Grimm — Music Box solo

The Revelation from the Jarvis Drama Production 'Not So Grimm'
Matthew Tran-Adams, composer

Not So Grimm — The Revelation

Opening Theme to Jarvis' Drama Production "Not So Grimm"
Matthew Tran-Adams, composer
Composed using a real Music Box.

Not So Grimm — Opening Theme

Closing Theme for Jarvis' Drama Production 'Not So Grimm'
Matthew Tran-Adams, composer
Composed using a real music box.

Not so Grimm — Closing Theme

A Jazz piece for lever harp

Matthew Tran-Adams, harp and composer
www.tranadams.com

Aoife's Groove (electric harp)

Aoife's Groove (pronounced ee-fa)

Angela Maccaroni, flute
Matthew Tran-Adams, electric harp and composer

Aoife's Groove (electric harp and flute)

Sitting in self isolation in Nakano, Japan. Bought a new mini keyboard and I thought I would doodle my mood.

Alone In Nakano

Composer: Matthew Tran-Adams
Choir: Avanti Chamber Singers
Conductor: Harris Loewen
Violinist: Gail Poulsen

From the CD: Gate of the Year (2013)

Salve Regina: Our Lady of Knock (Matthew Tran-Adams, composer; Avanti Chamber Singers)

www.tranadams.com

Matthew Tran-Adams is a Toronto-based composer and a Lecturer at OISE/University of Toronto. His interest in world music and folk songs have generated a variety of unique works which feature and integrate various cultures. His works have been performed by groups such as the Carson City Symphony (Nevada, USA), The Brampton Symphony (Brampton, Canada), The Brock University Chorale (St. Catharines, Canada), The Orchid Ensemble (Vancouver, Canada) and The Vancouver Chinese Choir Association. Matthew is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre.

Born in Niagara Falls, Matthew has worked extensively as a composer, performer, educator, historian, writer, and editor. His work experience is varied in that he has been a university instructor, head of an integrated arts department at Parkdale Collegiate Institute, curriculum writer, church music director, piano accompanist, flautist, harpist, rock and Celtic musician, and lounge pianist. Matthew has written for the journal, The Canadian Music Educator where he explores the topic of equity and social justice in music education. His other passion is Canadian history and he often uses historical events as inspiration for his work. His work Gold Mountain Elegy, performed by performed and recorded by both the Vancouver Chinese Choir Association and the Brock University Chorale is dedicated to Chinese-Canadians who risked and lost their lives building the railroad across Canada.

In 2014 Matthew won the Royal Conservatory of Music’s 21C: 21st Premiere Contest for his work to-BEI-ron-JING-to/多—北—伦—京—多 REMIX I. In 2005 Matthew was runner up in the Foundation Orchestra Association's International Composition Competition with his work The Refugee Child which is dedicated to the Vietnamese Boat people who risked their lives to escape Vietnam. This piece incorporates a children's folk song Ly Ngua O (The Black Horse) to depict a child's journey from the security and familiarity of home to an unknown and possibly dangerous future.

Matthew also works as a freelance musician specializing in Celtic/electric harp, piano, flute and voice.

Matthew Tran-Adams

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