@davidraincomposer.bsky.social
After working 40 yrs in international development & support for newcomers to Canada, I have written 35 songs for choirs & I blog about humanitarian Dr. Lotta Hitschmanova (1909-1990). https://davidrainchoralcomposer.ca/ https://lotta56sparks.ca/
A song to celebrate the 628th birthday of that great pioneering Renaissance composer, Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474).
The narrator is singing directly to his βsad heart,β begging the heart to let go of the woman who is just not interested in him, but the heart just wonβt let go.
youtu.be/vvT0zhxU_zk
After a career as a lawyer and judge -- and with no formal training -- my beloved Uncle Duncan (1932-2025) explored the cause of gravity -- and other challenging questions of theoretical physics.
Here is a new website devoted to his remarkable insights and published papers:
duncanshawphysics.ca.
July 18, 2019. 2 days after a βpreviewβ performance in Innsbruck, Nicol Matt led the Chamber Choir of Europe in the world premiere of my Brahms "Ave Maria" arrangement in the small German town of SchwΓ€bisch GmΓΌnd. Never to be forgotten.
#canadian #acappella #choral #composer
youtu.be/z2nh40PPpu0
Thanks Kathy, glad you liked it, such a great choir!
16.07.2025 12:56 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0A very special memory -- 6 years ago today -- for the very first time -- I heard one of my choral creations sung in Europe.
My βAve Mariaβ arrangement of a favourite #Brahms piano piece was sung in #nnsbruck by the #ChamberChoirofEurope led by Nicol Matt.
#canadian #acappella #choral #composer
A Sunday morning discovery, one of the most hauntingly beautiful videos I have ever seen -- by the Italian choir Libera Cantoria Pisani led by Filippo Furlan.
A song by Italian composer Cecilia Seghizzi (1908-2019), and yes, you read that right, she lived till the age of 111.
youtu.be/BrvDoLWEtZA
For fans of Gustav Mahler β who turns 165 today β hereβs an a cappella setting of "Ging heut' morgen ΓΌber's Feld" β his beautiful song that became the 1st theme of his 1st symphony β with a spectacular recording by the Rocky Mountain Chamber Choir.
youtu.be/Cd7fZXZEDoM
As dawn breaks on #CanadaDay red streaks fill the air. Clouds float in awe, caressing the heavens. Rivers start to stir. Schools of leaping fish. They sing us their love songs.
Lyrics by me, music by #ErikSatie, whom we also honour today on the 100th anniversary of his death.
youtu.be/PcMWw1INsPY
Veni Creator Spiritus!
The heron has become my spirit bird, a special source of inspiration and creative energy.
Poetry (and industry) in motion.
Photo credit: Paul Dixon.
Isfahan is in the news sadly. A place you may never have heard of before. If so, and if you need a break from world news - may I recommend just 2 minutes of your time - have a listen to Barbara Hendricks singing Gabriel Faure's evocative, haunting chanson - Les Roses d'Ispahan.
youtu.be/VO5gRBgRrU8
It's National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada -- and if you haven't heard Willie Dunn's 1968 song before -- The Ballad of Crowfoot -- perhaps have a listen today -- it won't leave you unmoved.
youtu.be/l-32jc58bgI
Hereβs to the Fathers β and Grandfathers β who are Active in all aspects of Raising a Kid β Happy #FathersDay!
15.06.2025 11:15 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
A choral commentary on our failing Human Experiment -- and its never-ending thirst for Guns, Drones, Missiles and War. Peace must be the answer!
youtu.be/8Fw7AztSFRo?...
After completing a marathon, the body is wasted, the mind is barely there, and hallucinations are not that uncommon. Hence 2 Sundays ago, I thought I had imagined seeing a double #rainbow back at my hotel after the #Ottawa #Marathon. Turns out, I totally forgot that I had taken a photo. π
08.06.2025 13:05 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
2 thumbs up, we made it to BOTH finish lines! The 1st was a week ago, when I finished the 42km #Ottawa #Marathon. The smiles continued this weekend, as donations to @orkidstra.bsky.social from my sponsors have taken me to my fundraising finish line ($1500) and beyond ($1600). So grateful, thank you!
01.06.2025 11:02 β π 3 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
Itβs been a great post #Marathon time, seeing old friends, walking to fav spots in Ottawa, regaining control of my leg muscles, etc. π
While #Ottawa never quite felt like βhome,β yet it does possess a certain relaxed energy and pace, which is quite noticeable after my hectic year in #Toronto β¦
Success, I completed my 28th marathon on Sunday!
Thx to my sponsors, we raised $1300 for @orkidstra.bsky.social, which means a lot more musical instruments for kids and free music lessons.
Huge thanks to all #Ottawa #Marathon cheerleaders and volunteers, esp. at water stations!
Merci beaucoup!
Todayβs the day β thx to my sponsors -- weβve raised $1250 for @orkidstra.bsky.social β such encouragement for me to attempt my 28th marathon this morning!
But why this photo? Just a reminder -- if I could run in one of the most challenging spots on this planet -- anything is possible today.
2 sleeps til my 28th Marathon! Only $350 til my $1500 fundraising goal for @orkidstra.bsky.social.
MARATHON TIP: the biggest obstacle for #Marathon #Runners is getting to the start line, sometimes all we need is a bit of encouragement.π
Donations still welcomed: www.justgiving.com/page/david-r...
Iβm so grateful β weβve now raised $1150 for @orkidstra.bsky.social β 3 days til my 28th marathon!
NB: pulling that famous Red Wagon this year has been such great cross-training, yet again! π
Donations till welcomed: www.justgiving.com/page/david-r...
Many thanks!
#ottawa #marathon
Iβm so grateful β weβve now raised $1000 for @orkidstra.bsky.social β 4 days til my 28th marathon!
NB: I thought Iβd slip over to one of the most famous golf courses in the world β just to get in a few last training runs. π
Donations till welcomed: www.justgiving.com/page/david-r...
Many thanks!
Thanks to everyone who's helped me raise $900 for @orkidstra.bsky.social β 5 days to go til I attempt my 28th marathon (42km) β in the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.
If youβd like to sponsor me with a donation -- hereβs my personal fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/page/david-r...
Many thanks!
Itβs an incredibly long journey to prepare for a marathon, and a bit of cross-training never hurts! π
Thx 4 helping me raise $250 for @orkidstra.bsky.social, as I train for my 28th marathon (42km) on May 25.
Donations still welcomed, many thanks!
www.justgiving.com/page/david-r....
In memory of Gustav Mahler -- who died on this day in 1911 β here is an a cappella arrangement of his famous song β "Ging heut' morgen ΓΌber's Feld" β which he loved so much β that it became the very first theme β of his very first symphony!
youtu.be/Cd7fZXZEDoM
A song for the 159th birthday of Erik #Satie β an acapella choral adaptation of his ground-breaking piano piece, Sarabande No. 1 β with lyrics by David Rain.
youtu.be/PcMWw1INsPY?...
Thx 4 helping me raise $200 so far for @orkidstra.bsky.social, as I train for my 28th marathon on May 25.
Donations still welcomed, many thanks!
www.justgiving.com/page/david-r....
When training for a marathon, the hardest thing is taking that first step, after that everything is βsuper easy.β π
A song in memory of Emily Dickinson, who died on this day in 1886: youtu.be/BXeJwxbhZIU
16.05.2025 03:02 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
On May 25, I will be attempting my 28th marathon (42km), in Ottawa.
I've been training since winter and am fundraising for OrKidstra this year: www.justgiving.com/page/david-r....
OrKidstra provides children from low-income families with free instruments and music lessons.
Thx for your support!
13 of my 35 choral creations have been dedicated to some of the most amazing moms the world has known, including this one dedicated to my mother, Lois Esther Rain. Happy Mothers Day!
youtu.be/s62GKhhY6gs?...
Just another "mundane" West Coast lake -- and another "mundane" West Coast mountain -- so many of them -- I can't even remember which ones these were. π
10.05.2025 16:16 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
