Okanagan Symphony Orchestra releases inaugural recording

Music lovers can now listen to the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra at their leisure.

After 10 years of planning, the OSO has released its first commercial album, Canadian Soundscapes.

The album features three main pieces; The Falcon’s Trumpet by R. Murray Schafer; Violin Concerto by Imant Raminsh; and Romantic Piano Concerto by Ernst Schneider.

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra’s inaugural commercial recording ‘Canadian Soundscapes.’ (image courtesy of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra)

“Each of the works (on the recording) is quite distinct in the tone and the presentation of what it presents on the CD,” OSO executive director Geraldine Parent told Vernon Matters.

The OSO is comprised of musicians from across Canada, but two composers included in this recording, Imant Raminsh and Ernst Schneider, are from the Okanagan area.

Parent said including The Falcon’s Trumpet in this recording was important as R. Murray Schafer recently passed away, and the fact that he was instrumental in coming up with the album’s name.

“It’s all quite unique, all Canadian based, hence the title we went with; Canadian Soundscapes,” said Parent.

“Soundscapes really was a term coined from Murray Schafer that [we] picked up on and so that’s what we’ve gone with for the title.”

Parent also noted that the album artwork was provided by the Okanagan artist Jane Everett.

The CD recordings were released in conjunction with the final concerts of the season, which are slated to go over the weekend. People can find the CDs at those shows, or online.

Along with releasing physical recordings, the OSO’s music is now available for the first time on streaming services.

“People can receive (the album) in the way they’re listening to music these days,” said Parent.

“We have live-streamed our concerts over the course of this year but none of that music is available longer term, so this is truly celebratory in that regard: releasing the CD and having it on all these download and streaming platforms and available all across the country.”

Parent added that with the recording out the OSO plans to make an application to the Junos in the coming months, making the inaugural album a potential legacy piece as well.