Robert Lemay Explained

Robert Lemay
Birth Date:13 February 1960
Birth Place:Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Education:Université de Montréal
Laval University
Occupation:Composer, educator
Spouse:Yoko Hirota

Robert Lemay (born February 13, 1960) is a Canadian composer of solo, chamber and orchestral works.[1]

Early years and education

Born in Montreal, Lemay studied at Laval University, where he received his Master's degree (M.Mus.) under François Morel. He completed a doctorate (D.Mus.) at the Université de Montréal under Michel Longtin in 1994.[2] He also spent a year at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he studied with David Felder and attended seminars given by Brian Ferneyhough, Louis Andriessen, and Donald Erb.[3] During this time, he met his wife, the pianist Yoko Hirota. In France, he worked with François Rossé in Bordeaux and Georges Aperghis at the Atelier Théâtre et Musique in Paris.

Career

Lemay has been described as having "made significant and substantial contributions to the saxophone repertoire."[4] Of his over 140 works, 80 are for (or include) the saxophone, ranging from solos to large ensembles. Since the late 1980s, he has collaborated with artists of the instrument such as Jean-François Guay, Jean-Michel Goury, and Jean-Marie Londeix.[5]

Since 2000, Lemay has resided in Sudbury, Ontario where he taught at Laurentian University from 2000-21.[6] He also taught at the University of Saskatchewan in 1996-97.[7]

From 2004-18, Lemay was President and Artistic Director of the 5-Penny New Music Concerts in Sudbury, where he worked extensively with the Silver Birch String Quartet.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Lemay was Composer-in-Residence of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra from 2008-10.[14]

Compositional style

Lemay is an atonal composer who has been influenced by the spectral techniques of Tristan Murail and Gérard Grisey, the modal approaches of Olivier Messiaen and Iannis Xenakis, and the rhythmic modulation of Elliott Carter. He also has discussed his process for the creation of melodic material.

The treatment of the concert setting — including stage layout, spatialization, gesture, and comportment and presence of the performer — is another stylistic concern, which was also the subject of Lemay's thesis and other writings.[15] [16] [17]

The employment of extended instrumental techniques has been analyzed in-depth in two of Lemay's solo pieces, Ariana, Kaboul (alto saxophone) and Clap (clarinet).[18]

Lemay has also written pieces for students including 6 Ushebtis (piano),[19] Train miniature (clarinet), and Beat the Drum (alto saxophone).[20]

Awards

Lemay is a laureate of national and international composition competitions including:

Works

The bibliography below is arranged by date of composition, title of the work, instrument(s), publisher (if applicable), and premiere, including performer(s), venue and date. Unpublished works are at the Canadian Music Centre. The CMC Music Library also has his complete works.

Solos, duos

Chamber ensembles

Chamber ensembles with conductor

Chamber orchestra

Orchestra

Selected albums, EPs and audio files

The list below is arranged by year of recording, title of the work, album title (if applicable), physical description (i.e., audio disc (CD), EP and audio files (online tracks)), producer, catalogue number, and performer(s). Selections of Lemay's music are also available at streaming and downloading platforms.

Selected videos (live in-concert performances)

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Robert Lemay. Canadian Music Centre. 2021-12-01.
  2. 2014 . Television interview . French . TFO . Sudbury, Ontario . Belluco, Joanne (director) . Rachel Desaulniers.
  3. Web site: 2022 . Lemay, Robert . 2022-02-14 . Resolute Music Publications.
  4. DMA . Durst . Aaron . A Descriptive Catalog of the Saxophone Compositions of Robert Lemay . University of Georgia. 2008 . 2022-10-14. 1131517037.
  5. Web site: Bertocchi . Serge . 2007 . Entretien avec Robert Lemay . French. 2021-12-09 . Saxophonèmes.
  6. News: Ulrichsen . Heidi . 2006-02-01 . Questions for composer Robert Lemay . Sudbury.com . 2021-12-02.
  7. Web site: Robert Lemay. French. Éditions Robert Martin. 2022-02-15.
  8. News: Concert showcases renowned Sudbury composer. Sudbury.com. 2013-09-23. 2022-03-27.
  9. D.Mus.. Koh. Min-Jeong. The Proliferation of String Quartets in Canada. University of Toronto. 85. 2014. 2022-03-27.
  10. News: Le violoniste Christian Robinson offre une dernière prestation à Sudbury. French. Radio-Canada. 2016-06-10. 2022-03-27.
  11. News: Bradley. Bill. Classical music lovers 'in for a treat,' says organizer. Sudbury.com. 2009-10-15. 2022-02-14.
  12. News: Stradiotto . Laura . 2013-10-03 . Creating a living art form . Sudbury Star . 2021-12-12.
  13. News: Duo kicks off 5-Penny's return to Sudbury. Sudbury Star. 2016-11-05. 2022-02-14.
  14. News: Robert Lemay is SSO composer-in-residence. Sudbury.com. 2008-06-27. 2022-02-14.
  15. D.Mus. . Lemay. Robert. 1994. Konzertsituation . French. Université de Montréal. 59335007.
  16. Lemay . Robert . 2006 . Forme et mouvement dans Solitude oubliée et Sarajevo . Actes de la Journée Sciences et Savoirs . French . 12 . 9–13 . 2022-10-14 . LULZone.
  17. DMA. Mahaffey. Matthew Ray. 2018. A Performance Guide to Robert Lemay's Ariana, Kaboul for Alto Saxophone and Film. University of Iowa. 1194635593. 2022-10-14.
  18. DMA. Danard. Rebecca J.. 2011. Études in Performing Extended Techniques: Twelve Newly-Commissioned Canadian Works for Solo Clarinet. University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. 77–91. 2022-10-14. 776873989.
  19. Hirota, Yoko. 6 Ushebtis [lecture-recital]]. Canadian Music Centre. 2020-01-19. 2022-02-15.
  20. Guay. Jean-François. Robert Lemay, Four Pedagogical Pieces for Alto Saxophone. Saxophone Symposium. 25. 2000. 71–72.
  21. News: Sudbury composer wins second in international composition contest. Sudbury.com. 2007-11-08. 2021-12-06.
  22. News: Desbois. Joel. Composer makes international splash. Sudbury Star. 2007-09-06.
  23. News: Levasseur . William . 2006-05-17 . Un compositeur sudburois reconnu à l'étranger . French . 3 . Le Voyageur . 2022-07-29.
  24. Beaucage, Réjean & Chan, Wah Keung. Premier prix à Robert Lemay. French. La Scena Musicale. 10. 2004-11-29. 4. 2021-12-06.
  25. Prix de la CAPAC. French. Le Milieu : bulletin mensuel de la SOCAN. 1. 1. 1990.
  26. CAPAC annonce les noms des gagnants de son concours de composition 1988. French. Le Compositeur canadien/The Canadian Composer. 237. 1989.
  27. News: Musique et poésie à 2000 mètres sous terre. Radio-Canada. French . 2016-08-24. 2022-01-06.
  28. Lemay. Robert. Fragments noirs, de la musique dans le SNOLAB. Ça parle au Nord. French . audio . Patricia Sauzede. Radio-Canada. Sudbury, Ontario. 2017-12-11. 2021-12-13.
  29. Web site: Music by the Sea Programme. 2012. Music by the Sea. Bamfield, BC. 2021-12-11.
  30. Sorenson. Dale . DMA diss. . Canadian Solo Trombone Repertoire: An Annotated Bibliography . 2015 . University of Toronto. 80-81.
  31. McGinnis . Barry Eugene . DMA diss. . An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Published Works for Saxophone and Percussion. 2002 . University of Georgia. 67–71.
  32. News: Motion Trio next in 5-Penny New Music series. Sudbury.com. 2014-01-19. 2021-12-12.
  33. Glencross . Laurie . An Annotated Bibliography of Woodwind Quintet Music by Canadian Composers . Florida State University. School of Music . D.Mus. . 2000 . 62 . 48032541 . 2022-10-15 . limited.
  34. The Sonorous Saxophone. Calgary Arts Development. Calgary, Alberta. 2016-10-29. 2021-12-12.
  35. An excerpt from this work was used for the film,
  36. Book: Burch-Pesses, Michael . Canadian Band Music: A Qualitative Guide to Canadian Composers and Their Works for Band . Meredith Music Publications . 2008 . 1st . Galesville, MD . 95–96.
  37. Web site: 2006-06-04 . X Konkurs Serockiego 2006 – Koncert laureatów [concert program] ]. 2021-12-06 . ISCM Polish Section . Polish.
  38. Robert Lemay . Emilie Daveluy . Le compositeur Robert Lemay mise sur l'équilibre entre les instruments dans son nouvel album . audio . Radio-Canada. Le matin du Nord . 2023-04-07 . French . 2023-05-01.
  39. Robert Lemay, Stéphane Sordet . Emilie Daveluy . Un nouvel album de microludes de Robert Lemay et Stéphane Sordet . 2022-08-31 . audio . Radio-Canada. Le matin du Nord . 2022-08-25 . French.
  40. News: Myers. Ella. Recording 2 km beneath the earth's surface a mystical experience, says composer. Sootoday.com. 2017-12-20. 2021-12-07.
  41. Web site: 2004 . Quintette à vents Estria [liner notes] ]. 2021-12-04 . Atma Classique.
  42. Web site: Côté. Gabriel. 2000-03-30. Qui va saxo va piano : Rémi Ménard et Marc Joyal rendent hommage à cinq compositeurs québécois. French. 2021-12-04. ULaval nouvelles.