MEDIA RELEASE
September 12, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE USE

Barbara Pritchard Presents Variations at St. Mary's University Art Gallery

Halifax pianist Barbara Pritchard will present Variations: 50 Miniatures for Solo Piano at the St. Mary's University Art Gallery on Saturday, October 15 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available in advance by calling 422-5403, or at the door at $15 regular and $12 for students and seniors.

The Variations program consists of one minute pieces written especially for Barbara Pritchard in response to this request:

Please read the following poem and then write a one-minute piano solo based on your thoughts about the poetry. (The poem comes from a really long poem called "The Other Goldberg Variations". It deals with J.S. Bach, J.G. Goldberg, Count Keyserling, and Glenn Gould.)"

The piano is not the end, but
The means, the mediator
Of body and music. The body
Is not the beginning, but
Must do for the moment. The music
Is not the end.

(Maggie Helwig. reprinted from Talking Prophet Blues by Maggie Helwig and used by permission)

Barbara Pritchard began this musical project in 1991 with six variations written by composers Howard Bashaw, Allison Cameron, Robert Pritchard, Robert Rosen, Clark Ross and Linda Smith. Since then, more than 50 additional composers have created miniatures for her, including several Atlantic based composers, whose Variations will be premiered at the October concert (Jerome Blais, Dennis Farrell, Richard Gibson) along with premieres by Toronto's Udo Kasemets and Wendy Prezament. The composers are Canadian, American, British, and Swedish. Most of their scores, some in hand calligraphy, some computer generated, will be displayed at the performance, which will be followed by a reception. The music spans a wide variety of styles - from traditional to jazz, from sublime to plain wacky!

Barbara Pritchard has been described as "Š one of our finest interpreters of contemporary keyboard musicŠ" (William Littler, The Toronto Star). She has appeared in performance with such noted musicians as Robert Aitken and Beverley Johnston, and while living in Toronto was a member of the Arraymusic and Continuum ensembles. She can be heard on seven different CDs, the most notable being her solo CD, "The View From Here" (Centrediscs), which was released in 1998 to critical acclaim.

Recent performances by Miss Pritchard include solo recitals at Toronto's Music Gallery (recorded for broadcast by CBC Radio's "Two New Hours"), at Memorial University (St. John's), at Mt. Allison University (Sackville), and in the snack bar of the Salmonid Interpretation Centre in Grand Falls, NF (as part of the Canadian Music Centre's "New Music in New Places" program). Future work includes a solo recital in Montreal (December 2006) and a performance of Olivier Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time" in Halifax (March 2006). Miss Pritchard is also preparing duo programs with flutist Karin Aurell and with pianist David Rogosin.

Miss Pritchard studied at the University of British Columbia, the Eastman School of Music, Ljungskile Folkhögskola (Sweden) and the Banff Centre for the Arts. For several years she was a faculty member at the Banff Centre in the New Music Residency program, and she has taught courses in 20th Century piano repertoire at Dalhousie University. Barbara Pritchard's performances are often recorded for broadcast by the CBC and she has also been heard on Swedish Radio.

As well as being an avid interpreter of contemporary piano solos, Miss Pritchard is highly regarded as an accompanist and chamber musician, playing the full range of classical repertoire. She lives in Halifax with one husband, two daughters and three cats.

Barbara Pritchard recognizes the support of the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, and is pleased to work in partnership with the Culture Division to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Halifax pianist Barbara Pritchard will present her program, Variations: 50 Miniatures for Solo Piano, at the St. Mary's University Art Gallery on Saturday, October 15 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available in advance by calling 422-5403, or at the door at $15 regular and $12 for students and seniors.

- 30 -

For more information, please contact:

Peggy Walt, Cultural Affairs Consulting & Promotion
1240 Edward Street
Halifax, NS Canada B3H 3H4
Telephone/fax: (902) 422-5403
E-mail: pwalt@hfx.andara.com

Back to Classical Soloists