Country : Canada Label : Redshift Genres and styles : Contemporary / Minimalist Year : 2022

Yarilo Contemporary Music Society – Nikolaï Korndorff: The Smile of Maud Lewis

· by Frédéric Cardin

Despite his almost cult status in the world of contemporary music, the Russian-born Canadian composer Nikolai Korndorff remains relatively unknown to the general public. This is a pity, especially as his writing is highly accessible and he is extremely skillful in constructing captivating narratives.

The album’s title track, “The Smile of Maud Lewis,” was commissioned by the CBC and is a tribute to Nova Scotian visual artist Maud Lewis, whose colourful, naive art is perfectly reflected in the composer’s sunny, minimalist palette. In the tradition of Terry Riley’s In C, the resolutely tonal work (a luminous F major) is initially built on a vaguely folkloric motif inspired by traditional Nova Scotian music and repeated like a modern continuo. This cushion becomes the support for a second, nursery rhyme-like melody that acts as a counterpoint as well as fittingly fleshing out the musical architecture of the piece. Korndorff’s orchestration is scintillating, with flutes, light and bouncy violins, metallic percussions and a finale in which a recorder provides the final confirmation of the piece’s pleasantly youthful character.

Maud Lewis : Untitled (Horses Ploughing)

The Triptych for cello and piano is grittier, and more dramatic, but the three movements (Lament, Response and Glorification) again offer a direct and effectively communicative narrative. Lullaby, for 2 pianos, returns to the tonal minimalism of Maud Lewis, but with a touch of impressionism, while Half-light, somnolent rains for piano duo is a composition by Jocelyn Morlock, a tribute to Korndorff created on the 5th anniversary of his death in 2006. The West Coast musicians embrace the musical universe of Nikolai Korndorff with passion and conviction.

A necessary album to learn more about the music of an important and eminently accessible Canadian composer.

Latest 360 Content

Festival des Saveurs | Carminda Mac Lorin, The Woman of Many Hats

Festival des Saveurs | Carminda Mac Lorin, The Woman of Many Hats

SAT X EAF | Amselysen and The Ideal Perfume of A Serial Killer

SAT X EAF | Amselysen and The Ideal Perfume of A Serial Killer

Festival Classica 2025 | Women’s Cellos

Festival Classica 2025 | Women’s Cellos

Nuits d’Afrique 2025: ALL About The Program

Nuits d’Afrique 2025: ALL About The Program

Festival Classica: An Ode to Hope with Elvira Misbakhova

Festival Classica: An Ode to Hope with Elvira Misbakhova

Festival des Saveurs | Aldo Guizmo Goes “Str8 Forward”

Festival des Saveurs | Aldo Guizmo Goes “Str8 Forward”

Deafhaven – Lonely People with Power

Deafhaven – Lonely People with Power

Transforming Hiroshima mon amour into contemporary opera: Christian Lapointe and Rosa Lind tell the story

Transforming Hiroshima mon amour into contemporary opera: Christian Lapointe and Rosa Lind tell the story

Sparks – MAD!

Sparks – MAD!

“Hiroshima, mon amour”: An Evening to Remember

“Hiroshima, mon amour”: An Evening to Remember

Peter Murphy – Silver Shade

Peter Murphy – Silver Shade

Ken Pomeroy – Cruel World

Ken Pomeroy – Cruel World

Art of the Line: Klangkarussell’s Euro Vision at SAT

Art of the Line: Klangkarussell’s Euro Vision at SAT

Festival des Saveurs | Closing With Reggae

Festival des Saveurs | Closing With Reggae

Centroamérica – a powerful docu-play about truth and connection in an age of distance and denial

Centroamérica – a powerful docu-play about truth and connection in an age of distance and denial

Lido Pimienta – La Belleza

Lido Pimienta – La Belleza

Tamir Barzilay – Phosphene Journal

Tamir Barzilay – Phosphene Journal

The best ‘’Candlelight concert‘’ ever.

The best ‘’Candlelight concert‘’ ever.

Men I Trust – Equus Caballus

Men I Trust – Equus Caballus

The Halluci Nation – Path of the Baby Face

The Halluci Nation – Path of the Baby Face

A lap steel guitar choir and an angel to end the Innovations en concert 24-25 season

A lap steel guitar choir and an angel to end the Innovations en concert 24-25 season

The OSM and Abel Selaocoe: Evenings When You’d Like to Stop Time

The OSM and Abel Selaocoe: Evenings When You’d Like to Stop Time

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Subscribe to our newsletter