“Distance” by the Choir of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul

Enregistrement réalisé les 6, 7 et 8 novembre 2020 à l’église St. Andrew and St. Paul, Montréal (Québec), Canada

Recorded on November 6, 7, and 8, 2020, at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, Montreal (Quebec), Canada

Réalisateurs/Producers: Elias Dubelsten et/and Simon Rivard

Ingénieur du son/Recording engineer:  Elias Dubelsten

Montage/Editing: : Elias Dubelsten

Mixage/Mixing: Mark Donahue

Mastering: Mark Donahue

March 2020. The world comes to a standstill, everything is put on hold, and the voices of millions of singers worldwide are abruptly silenced. The consequences of the pandemic are disastrous, social distancing becomes our new normal, along with an oppressive sense of isolation. Creativity and music, although nearly impossible at the beginning of the confinement, appear to be the only releases from this unprecedented situation.

The inspiration for this recording was born as pandemic-caused discouragement was at its lowest ebb. Precisely at the moment when music seemed to be at a full stop, the need to create and express seemed most acute. Thanks to an innovative group of singers and creative partners, our voices were finally able to sound anew as of this autumn. This recording was made at the height of the second wave of the pandemic, as Montreal was at the maximum public health alert level. Throughout this eclectic program we explore the different faces of distance: absence, separation, physical and spiritual distance, as well as the sense of distance that can sometimes take hold within ourselves. Paradoxically, the works on the programme have allowed us to explore themes of hope, resilience, the appreciation of simple pleasures, and the development of our sense of community and common purpose.

The concept of distance was central to our experience in making the recording, as the public health guidelines in effect imposed specific working conditions. Musically, the repertoire explores the theme of distance through works for double choir, works by composers from historically under-represented communities, works that form bridges from music of the past to more contemporary traditions, as well as works that reflect the calm and serenity that the pandemic has also brought us.

This recording is a memento of the situation that affects us in 2020. In these difficult times the project has brought us together, despite our enforced physical distance. We are happy to invite you to this distanced musical universe, with an especially warm embrace of shared experience.

Jean-Sébastien Vallée

(translated by Jonathan Oldengarm)