"The Lady Gertrude" and Shanghai Dim Sum
That darn composer Doug Schmidt presented me with a real challenge (so I thought) for premiering his new work "Sirens" on Esprit's March 31st concert. He included a part for a harmonium - a real old-fashioned pump organ with air pumped into bellows with two foot pedals. (The player has to steadily pedal alternating feet to keep up the air pressure and simultaneously play at the keyboard - and change stops as necessary!) It's one thing to do this with hymns or chorales, but imagine trying to do this playing complex new music rhythms!
Naturally I wondered where we would get such an instrument in good condition. Doug was thinking ahead and, from Saigon where he now lives, began forwarding me Canadian Kijiji links to possible organs. These were not helping much in the search but finally there was a possible instrument to be viewed in northeast Markham - in the far reaches of Suburbia. Alexina and I got in the car and drove there to discover that the instrument was for sale at $250. The owner, who was downsizing, wasn't interested in renting it out and it was the size of an upright grand piano. Even if Esprit bought it, the moving charges would have been exorbitant (Markham to the rehearsal hall, then to Koerner Hall then to --- where?). I could not imagine finding storage for it and trying to sell it after the concert.
Driving back to Toronto along Highway 7, we were astonished at the vast malls that have sprung up there - seemingly filled only with Chinese restaurants. All was not lost for us on this adventure. We turned in and discovered the Ding Tai Fung Shanghai Dim Sum Restaurant - very special and different from what we usually find downtown. This made the trip worthwhile.
But - back to the harmonium. What next? I spent a couple of hours on the phone in a further unsatisfactory search. Then, our musicians contractor, Christine Little, suggested I call David Olds at New Music Concerts about our need. He recommended I contact Dawn Lyons and Den Ciul, harpsichord builders, restorers and providers, who I've worked with before when we needed a harpsichord. Their company is called Claviers Baroques.
I called Dawn and - AMAZINGLY! - Dawn and Den had the perfectly-sized, perfectly in tune, easily transportable harmonium in their living room. In all her glory, she is named "The Lady Gertrude". She will be ours for the concert. At last, relief! But, it gets better. Dawn and Den (and Gertrude) live two blocks away from me in High Park.
Somehow it's fitting that the harmonium in Doug's piece represents the main character of the work - a sailor lured by sirens to his demise on the ocean deep. I hope you’ll come and hear Lady Gertrude at Koerner Hall on March 31st!
— Alex