|
Ralph (Edwin) Grierson. Pianist, harpsichordist, keyboard synthesist, composer, b New Westminster, BC, 23 Jun 1942; B MUS (Southern California) 1966, M MUS (Southern California) 1968. His teachers 1948-62 in New Westminster, BC, and in Vancouver were Priscilla Eastman, Glenn Nelson, and Glen Geary. By 1958 Grierson had appeared in 12 children's concerts with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Before and during studies 1962-8 at the University of Southern California with John Crown and Ingolf Dahl he played in Vancouver nightclubs with Fraser MacPherson, Dal Richards, Dave Robbins, and others, and on such CBC programs as 'Sound of the 60s' (radio, 1964-5) and 'Chorus Gentlemen' (TV, 1965, 1966). Successful Career in the US In 1968 Ralph Grierson settled in Los Angeles, establishing parallel careers as a studio musician for TV and film (playing all the electronic keyboard instruments and also piano, organ, and harpsichord) and as an interpreter of contemporary music. With Michael Tilson Thomas he made the first recording of Stravinsky's own four-hand piano reduction of The Rite of Spring. Grierson was frequently a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, playing in Pierre Boulez' Éclat multiple (under the composer's baton), Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie, and works by Bach, Gershwin, and Gottschalk. He performed in chamber music series in Los Angeles, often with Tilson Thomas, in programs that have included music by Bartók, Cage, Copland, Gailliard, Kraft, Lanza, Mozart, and Subotnick. He performed Subotnick's Liquid Strata in several US cities. In 1974 he visited Vancouver to give a concert and lecture on ragtime for the CBC. Grierson has performed on the sound tracks of hundreds of motion pictures and TV shows. Significant films after 1990 on which his playing can be heard include The Horse Whisperer, Matrix (prepared piano), Fantasia/2000 (Rhapsody in Blue), and Monsters, Inc. He has been a regular collaborator of composer James Horner. He composed the music for the TV films The Hired Heart, Habitat, To Find My Son and Red Earth, White Earth, and a four-movement video performance, Sometimes... Not Always (Music and Health) premiered at the Los Angeles Theater Centre in 1984. The recordings 'S Wonderful and Fantasia 2000 were both nominated for Grammy awards.
Discography
Bolling California Suite, soundtrack. Laws fl, Bolling piano, Damonico double-bass, Manne drums, Shank fl and soprano saxophone, Tedesco guitar. 1978. CBS FM-36691 Cage Three Dances - Reich Four Organs. Thomas piano, organ; Kellaway and Reich organ. (1973). Angel S-36059 Camp - Hamilton - Henderson - Kraft. Stevens trumpet, Peters percussion. (1972). Avant AV-1003/Crystal S-113 For Ralph Grierson - Commissioned Works for Keyboard. Subotnick - Kraft. Townhall Records THCD-24 Gershwin 'S Wonderful. A. Kane piano. 1975. Angel S-36083/Angel CDM-769119-2 (CD) Henry Mancini: The Theme Scene. 1978 Joplin: The Red Back Book. New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble. 1990. Angel Records 47193 / 1994. Musical Heritage Society 513737K Magnetic Rag: Joplin. Southland Stingers, Sponhaltz conductor. 1975. Angel S-36078/(selections) Angel CDC-7-47193-2 (CD) Music for Alto and Soprano Saxophones: Maurice - Rodriguez - Stevens. Pittel saxophone. (1973). Crystal S-105 Only: Works for Voice and Instruments: Morton Feldman. 1996. NA085 New Albion Palm Leaf Rag: Joplin. Southland Stingers, Sponhaltz conductor. 1974. Angel S-36074/(selections) Angel CDC-7-471992 (CD) Roger Bobo and the Tuba Play: Barat - Galliard - Hindemith - Kraft - Wilder. Bobo tuba. Crystal S-125 Solo Brass - New Perspectives: Tackett. Bobo tuba, Tackett guitar, Mosher double-bass, Rich drums. (1973). Avant AV-1009/Crystal S-396 Sophie's Choice. Marvin Hamlisch. 2000. Stravinsky The Rite of Spring; Scherzo à la russe. Thomas piano. 1968. Angel S-36024/Ser S-60364 Tuba Nova: Subotnick. Bobo tuba. (1981). Crystal S-398
Links to Other Sites
Ralph Grierson
A biography of multitalented pianist Ralph Grierson from the Yamaha.com website.
Music & Health
The website for Ralph Grierson's company Music & Health.
Five Degrees of Separation
Listen to interviews (with brief musical excerpts) with various musicians, including pianist Ralph Grierson. From the website for American Public Media.
FANTASIA 2000
A poster for the movie FANTASIA 2000. Includes cast overview. From the website movieposter.com.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| David Thompson was an outsider, struggling to find a foothold in the empire that had consumed his country... |
|
| Pierre Elliott Trudeau, politician, writer, constitutional lawyer, prime minister of Canada 1968-79 and 1980-84 (b at ... |
|
|
| Few countries were affected as severely as Canada by the worldwide Depression of the 1930s. It is estimated that ... |
|
|
| Louis Riel, Métis leader, founder of Manitoba, central figure in the NORTH-WEST REBELLION (b at Red River ... |
|
|
| Few countries were affected as severely as Canada by the worldwide Depression of the 1930s. It is estimated that ... |
|
|
| Evangelical Christian Church, often called the Christian Church (Christian Disciples), is a denomination stemming from ... |
|
|
| The Group of Seven was founded in 1920 as an organization of self-proclaimed modern artists. The original members - ... |
|
|
| Sears Canada Inc, headquartered in Toronto, is a Canadian retailer incorporated in 1952. In 1953 operating under the ... |
|
|
| John Ware, "Nigger John," horseman, rancher (b near Georgetown, SC 1845; d near Brooks, Alta 11 Sept 1905). ... |
|
|
| Land claims are dealt with by a process established by the federal government to enable INDIANS, INUIT and ... |
|
Browse the rich visual resources of The Canadian Encyclopedia through thematic galleries of Canadian Art, History, Nature, People, and Science and Technology.
Illustrations, lively text, animations, sounds and games help make learning about Canadian history, art, geography, architecture and other topics entertaining as well as informative.
The ultimate test of your knowledge of Canada, trivial and otherwise. You can choose from more than 60 dynamic quizzes with visual or text clues. Your scores depend on the speed with which you answer and the number of clues you need. Results are sent to you by email and high scores are posted on the site.
This unique resource includes more than 6000 events from Canadian and world history. It can be searched by era, subject, keyword or date. To find out what happened on your birthday, select the month and day of your birth.
This selection of the 100 "greatest" events in Canadian history was made by editor in chief James H. Marsh to draw attention to events that have left an indelible memory in the minds of later generations.
| THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MUSIC IN CANADA |
|
| Jean Coulthard. Composer, teacher, b Vancouver 10 Feb 1908, d North Vancouver 9 Mar 2000; ATCM 1926, LRSM 1930, honorary D LITT (British Columbia) 1988, honorary LLD (Concordia) 1991. Jean Coulthard studied in Vancouver with her ... |
|
|
