1. Harry Somers received commissions from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Canada Council for the Arts.
19 Facts About Harry Somers
1. 2.
Harry Somers was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on September 11,1925.
3.
In 1942, Harry Somers began studying under Reginald Godden at the conservatory, whom he stayed with until 1943.
4.
Harry Somers took a sabbatical from his studies in 1943 to serve with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.
5.
Harry Somers's work was part of the music event in the art competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics.
6.
Harry Somers composed his suite for harp and orchestra in 1949.
7.
In Paris, Harry Somers heard the music of Boulez and Messiaen; these composers would influence his later music.
8.
Harry Somers returned to Paris for more compositional studies with Canada Council for the Arts fellowship.
9.
Also in 1963, Harry Somers began his part-time career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation by hosting televised youth concerts.
10.
In 1965, Harry Somers began hosting the CBC radio series "Music of Today" and continued hosting it until 1969.
11.
Harry Somers became the special consultant of the North York School in Toronto from 1968 to 1969.
12.
Harry Somers spent two years there, during which time he wrote Voiceplay and Kyrie.
13.
In 1971, after he returned to Canada from his work in Rome, Harry Somers was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.
14.
Harry Somers was awarded three honorary doctorates: one from the University of Ottawa, one from York University, and one from the University of Toronto.
15.
Harry Somers gave the opening address at the Alberta Music Conference in 1993, wrote a choral piece for the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations in 1995, and served as the writer-in-residence for the first "Word and Music Festival" held at the University of Windsor in 1997.
16.
Harry Somers's music was performed in the US, Central and South Americas, Europe and the Soviet Union.
17.
Harry Somers's works include techniques such as vocalization, vowel and breath sounds, and timbrel inflections.
18.
Under Weinzweig, during the 1940s, Harry Somers received his first formal instruction in composition.
19.
In 1950s, Harry Somers focused on the use of fugue-related textures and techniques.