Marie-Claire Saindon

Fingernail Moon

In her lyrical setting of a poem by Paul Grindlay that is rich with natural imagery, Saindon creates a sweeping soundworld that emulates the crescent shape of the moon, along with imaginative harmonies that are evocative of the mystery of the sky. The piece also celebrates the qualities of gratitude and simplicity, inviting the listener to become aware of the community supporting both the work and the artists themselves and to reflect with gratitude for those who provide support in their own lives.

Programme Notes:

A simple lyrical piece at its surface, Fingernail Moon reveals a deep feeling of gratitude. While composers are often celebrated for their musical craft and inspiration, we sometimes forget that artists are in fact quite interdependent with their surrounding community. This composer in particular would like to give a heartfelt thanks to the poets like Paul Grindlay that give her carte blanche to use their poetry, and to her "piano editor" Chad Linsley, without whom her piano accompaniments would be not as colourful, and perhaps not always idiomatic to the instrument. It goes without saying that this composer also offers professional services to others in exchange, thus being part of an interdependent artistic community. When listening to and performing this piece, the composer would like to encourage you to reflect towards whom you feel gratitude for their contributions, no matter how small, that allow you to shine even brighter, no matter how small.

Composer Information:
Marie-Claire Saindon is a Franco-Ontarian composer with a penchant for vivid imagery and a great affinity for setting text. In addition to her role as composer-in-residence for Chœur Adleisia, she runs creative choral and vocal composition workshops, scores films, and teaches Irish fiddle. Her choral works have been performed in many countries, continents, and contexts, from local community performances to the World Symposium on Choral Music, and have been awarded multiple prizes for compositio