Thirty years ago, Elizabeth MacIsaac started a choir birthed out of her passion for highlighting womenB次元官网网址檚 voices. Today, that choir, Ensemble Laude, is well known in Victoria and has performed worldwide. And now, they are releasing an album of choral music for upper voices, Vox Femina. The album is significant as itB次元官网网址檚 been 10 years since their last and showcases how far the choir has come while emphasizing a feminist lens.
In the last decade, the choir honed their sound while performing in places like France and Newfoundland. Since the choir first started as an ensemble of 10, MacIsaac has seen it grow to over 60 singers. SheB次元官网网址檚 expanded its repertoire to go beyond medieval music and now emphasizes selections by female composers worldwide. Vox Femina will be a curated collection of these pieces, with an emphasis on Canadian composers such as Sarah Quartel, Marie-Claire Saindon, Katerina Gimon, Sherryl Sewepagaham, and Laura Hawley.
Ensemble Laude has also expanded its identity to include people of fluid gender, so long as they are in the upper range of vocals and can sing soprano or alto.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the big questions people always ask me is why did you decide to make it a womenB次元官网网址檚 choir?B次元官网网址� said MacIsaac. B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 because thereB次元官网网址檚 a sound that you can have when all of the voices are of a particular register.B次元官网网址�
ThereB次元官网网址檚 actually a musical term for it.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 called heterophony,B次元官网网址� MacIsaac said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 intense. Can you imagine a group of violins? All playing together in harmony. ThatB次元官网网址檚 very different from a bunch of violins with cellos and double basses.B次元官网网址�
MacIsaac described her journey into feminism starting with her charismatic father who had four daughters and three sons.
B次元官网网址淗e wanted his daughters to be just as empowered in their lifeB次元官网网址檚 work as his sons, so there was a bit more pressure put upon the daughters to not take up roles that were, I donB次元官网网址檛 know, less active, less self-fulfilling than the sonsB次元官网网址�. That was the first realization I had that I could do what I was inspired to do.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 in my 60s nowB次元官网网址� feminism was emerging just as I was a small girl,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou start looking around you, and say, okay so women can do anything, then why are almost all of the conductors in the world men?B次元官网网址�
From there, MacIsaacB次元官网网址檚 commitment to representing women in music as composers, performers or conductors grew. Apart from Ensemble Laude, she also teaches choral pedagogy at the University of Victoria. In the music world, she is seeing a wave right now bringing forth female composers and marginalized voices, so she said itB次元官网网址檚 a bit ironic that they have their album Vox Femina coming out. (The album had actually been in the works for a few years after receiving funding from CRD but was put on hold due to the pandemic.)
The choir is showcasing and selling the album at two concerts titled Bloom! This will be the last concert series under MacIsaacB次元官网网址檚 artistic direction before she takes a yearB次元官网网址檚 sabbatical, a much-needed time for her to recover from the burdens that came from the pandemic.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an opportunity to regroup, to dream again,B次元官网网址� said MacIsaac. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 like an artist with a canvas and I have the opportunity to determine what is going to be painted on that canvas? How will I curate the programming and what will this choir mean to its audiences? What is our intention when we reach out and sing for others, not just for ourselves?B次元官网网址�
Vox Femina will be released on digital platforms soon.
Ensemble Laude performs Saturday, April 27, at 7 p.m. at St AndrewB次元官网网址檚 Presbyterian Church, and Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m. at St MaryB次元官网网址檚 of the Incarnation in Metchosin. Tickets to both shows are available on eventbrite.ca and at the door.
Tickets: $25 in advance; $30 at the door; $15 students with valid ID; and free for children 12 and under.
