Larry Nickel
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| Larry Nickel | |
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 Larry Nickel composing in 2004
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Larry Nickel |
| Born | March 12, 1952 |
| Origin | India |
| Genre(s) | Choral singing |
| Occupation(s) | Composer / Songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | singing / Composing |
| Website | http://www.canuckcomposer.com/ |
Larry Nickel is a noted Canadian composer and conductor who devotes much of his focus to choral music. His sacred and secular compositions are widely performed and published. Publisher, Peter Martin, once referred to Larry as the John Rutter of Canada, alluding to Larry's British ecclesiastical style. Larry specializes in writing music tailor-made for the preferences and abilities of individual performance groups. He has composed for a wide spectrum of genres; electronic and computer music, string quartet, woodwind and brass quintet, Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Primarily, he has written and arranged hundreds of pieces for choirs. Believing that instruments are an extension of the voice, his vocal writing (song cycles, etc) is often the source for his instrumental composition. Larry serves frequently as a choral clinician, music minister and music festival adjudicator.
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[edit] Biography
Born to missionary parents, Larry studied music while in India under the International Baccalaureate Program. He directed his high school chamber choir when he was 17 and won the school's "Best Musician of the Year" award in his graduating year. This affirmation encouraged him to pursue music as a career. Upon returning to Canada, Larry and his friends formed a coffeehouse band called the "Sound of Light", which performed regularly in the Vancouver area for four years, made two LP recordings and worked in recording studios as back-up singers. Nickel credits this period as a time when he learned to write and arrange songs. Larry continued his studies at Columbia Bible College, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Lethbridge. His Master of Music degree was completed at the University of Western Washington in 1983.
Larry was a high school performing arts teacher for 25 years, teaching Choir, Concert Band, Jazz Ensembles and Drama/Acting. During that time he directed over 50 stage productions. In 1993 he won the International Association Jazz Educators award for "outstanding service to jazz education". His senior choir was selected two years in a row, 2001 and 2002, by Varsity Vocals' international search for the Best of High School Choirs.
In 2003, Larry took a break from teaching to pursue a Doctorate (DMA) in Composition (obtained in 2007) and studied with Stephen Chatman, Dorothy Chang and Keith Hamel. His thesis involved writing a Requiem in thirteen languages. "Requiem for Peace" was presented at the Chan Center on December 03, 2005 under the direction of Bruce Pullan. It involved a 200 voice choir which included the UBC Singers, the UBC Choral Union and the Trinity Western University Choir. Soloists Robyn Driedger-Klassen, Grace Chan and Steve Maddock were featured. Accompanying them was the UBC Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Stephen Chatman (head of Composition at UBC) wrote the following, after hearing Requiem for Peace: "Larry Nickel's work poignantly expresses a universal hope for peace: a major work on a grand scale - an all encompassing, all inclusive work, which demonstrates craft, genius, moral and religious conviction, and a profound sense of musical integrity."
[edit] Musical Direction
In 1989, Larry almost died of viral encephalitis. Looking back on his long convalescence he says, "I committed myself to writing music more earnestly for God during that time". Since then, his career as a composer has taken a dramatic turn. Christian convictions permeate much of his writing.
Larry and director Tony Funk founded the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir in 1990. This choir has recorded over 120 of Larry's compositions on thirteen CD's. Proceeds from CD sales, close to a million dollars as of 2007, have helped to fund the charitable services of Communitas, an organization that works with mentally challenged people. This choir is sometimes featured on CBC radio and broadcast out of Chicago regularly.
Larry continues to receive commissions from many vocal groups, including the Vancouver Cantata Singers, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Vancouver Bach Choir, Elektra, Chor Leoni, Welsh Men's Choir, Winnipeg Children's Choir, Pacific Mennonite Children's Choir, PODIUM honor choir, Erato Ensemble, Canadian Tenors, Faith and Life Men's Chorus, etc. His music is published by several companies including Cypress Press, Shawnee Press, Canadian International Music, Pavane Publishing, Classica Music and G. Schirmer Publishers.
Larry currently lives in Yaletown, Vancouver, with his wife, Edna. While writing music every day, he sings in the Vancouver Chamber Choir.
[edit] Discography (CDs which feature Larry’s compositions)
- Songs My Father Taught Me -1991 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- Carols for the Infant King - 1992 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- Through an Open Window - 1993 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- A Mennonite Tapestry - 1994 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- Songs of Earth, Echoes of Heaven - 1996 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir featuring Ben Heppner
- Come Heart’s Delight - 1997 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- When I Was a Child - 1998 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- Rare Benediction - 1999 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- As Evening Shadows Fall - 2000 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- My Heart My Home - 2001 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- The Time of Eternity - 2002 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- And Night Shall End - 2003 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- By Light Indwelled - 2004 - The West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir
- Requiem for Peace – 2006 - UBC Chorus and Symphony
- Meditation – 1998 - Calvin Dyck (violinist)
- One Small Child – 2004 - Calvin Dyck (violinist)
- Canadian Safari - 1997 – Chor Leoni
- Canadian Safari Two - 2005 - Chor Leoni
- Circle of Compassion - 2007 - Chor Leoni
- Faith and Life Choral Festival 2002 – variety of choirs
[edit] Works - a sampling in alphabetical order
- ALBUM FOR THE ELDERLY - a song cycle (6 songs) for soloist and piano - (premiered by the Erato Ensemble)
- AN A CAPPELLA CHRISTMAS CANTATA - (commissioned by the South Abbotsford MB Church) SATB, soloists (45 minutes)
- ANOTHER DAY OF GRACE - the Cantata - (commissioned by the South Abbotsford MB Church) SATB , piano, organ (45 minutes)
- Billy Bob Meets Billy Jean – four movements for String Quartet
- Blues for Laura - Violin and Cello duet
- COFFEEHOUSE - (the musical) (two hours) (commissioned by the Mennonite Educational Institute) SATB, piano, orchestra, soloists
- Come My Way - SATB, piano (commissioned for Choral Podium 2006)
- Dare alla Luce - commissioned by University of Calgary SSAA & SATB;
- Day by Day - commissioned by Waterloo University SSAATTBB, a cappella, recorded by DaCapo Chamber Choir, published - Shawnee Press;
- Enneadic Presto and Waltz - (based on a nine note mode) Woodwind Quintet
- FROM ONE DEGREE OF GLORY- the Cantata - (commissioned by the South Abbotsford MB Church) SATB, soloists, piano, organ (45 minutes)
- Give Me Wings, (arr.) - SSAATTBB, orchestra - co written with Torban Oxbal and Kunai Murai
- Grief of Pleasure Brought Me to Him, the - commissioned and premiered by the Vancouver Bach Choir
- Harukai - Brass Quartet
- Hop, Skip and March – three movements for Saxophone Quartet
- Graduation Blues – for three Flutes, piano, double bass
- Healing for a Wounded World - (commissioned by Timbre Community Choir) - SATB, piano
- I WANT TO FLY - (the children's cantata) - (25 minutes) (commissioned by the Pacific Mennonite Children's Choir) SSAA, piano
- Jason's Game - String Quartet - also arranged for Symphonic Concert Band and premiered by the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble
- Last Thing I Shall Do, the - a piece for 4 soloists (two women and two men), piano and saxophone - commissioned by the Erato Ensemble
- Love Bade Me Welcome - SATB, A Cappella, soloist, clarinet
- Make a Joyful Noise - SATB, piano, trumpet (premiered with trumpeter - Chris Robertson) - commissioned by the Valley Festival Singers
- MELODIES OF MELOTSCHNA; , (arr.) - SATB with piano, SAA with piano, Violin, clarinet and piano - commissioned for a tour to the Ukraine
- NO MORE FEAR OF DYING - The Easter Cantata, (One hour in length) - SATB,
- ONCE UPON a KINGDOM - (the Musical) (commissioned by the Pacific Mennonite Children's Choir) SAA, piano, strings, percussion
- REQUIEM for PEACE - Doctoral dissertation, one hour in length, 12 languages for large chorus, chamber choir, three soloists and symphony orchestra
- SONGS OF ASCENTS - Set of 8 Songs in five languages for solo voice, violin and piano, premiered by Dr. Ray Harris, Dr. Cal Dyck and Dr. Betty Suderman
- SONGS OF ISAIAH - Set of 8 Songs for solo voice and piano, premiered for CBC Radio by Ingrid Suderman and Linda Lee Thomas
- SONGS of the WASTELAND - Set of 13 songs for two soloists and chamber orchestra - settings of poetry and melodies of Renia Perel - a Holocaust survivor
- SONGS MY FATHER TAUGHT ME – SATB – a collection of 22 songs for church choirs
- Two Little Boys - a set of four pieces for violin and piano - commissioned by Connie Eilers (for a recital at Biola University)
- Throughout All Generations - commissioned by Waterloo University - SSAATTBB, acappella
- WHEN I THINK OF BRIDGES - SATB a cappella - eleven movements, 20 minutes, commissioned and premiered by the Vancouver Chamber Choir
- When I Was a Child - SATB a cappella - commissioned by the Vancouver Cantata Singers
