Listening Party Podcast Episode 15

Jenn Treble, Music teacher at Esquimalt High School

My paternal grandparents were musicians. They both grew up on the farm at a time where it was expected that everyone would play an instrument. Both of my parents love music, but my father was constantly playing the guitar when I was growing up. He would sing too, so much of what I heard were Eagles and Doobie Brothers tunes, a little Fleetwood Mac, Buddy Holly and Patsy Cline.

Peaceful Easy Feeling by Eagles immediately takes me back to any day of the week in my mom’s place in Regina. I love playing this song on the guitar today to get in touch with that feeling.

When high school ended, I distinctly remember that there was an expectation that I would attend a post- secondary institution, but it was up to me to figure out what I wanted to do (and how to pay for it). I don’t remember feeling especially passionate about becoming a music teacher, but I thought that it was the closest thing I had to knowing what to do. I did my undergrad at the University of Regina and then began teaching band and English at a large high school in Regina. During this time, I fell more deeply in love with wind band music, orchestra music, and jazz. I loved listening to Count Basie, John Coltrane, Percy Grainger, and one artist that I found myself scream singing-along with a lot was Pat Metheny, in particular Have You Heard by Pat Metheny (Letter From Home). By the way this song has no words!

I started grad school only three years later, mostly because I felt like I didn’t do a great job absorbing all the lessons in my undergrad and was feeling deeply insecure as a musician. I began studying wind band conducting at the University of Minnesota and a short time later, with Craig Kirchhoff. This experience was intense. Being immersed in an environment with such dedicated musicians was gift and I learned a great deal not only from my teachers but also my classmates and Teaching Assistant colleagues. My only exposure to Stravinsky before grad school was through orchestra music. One term we studied the Stravinsky Octet in conducting studio, and I was mesmerized with the range of colour and emotional vibrancy of this piece. I absolutely love the slow, and beautiful build to the ultimate climax at the end of the third movement, it is perfection! Octet for Wind Instruments: III Finale conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen with the London Sinfonietta.

Cold in the Summer by Dan Mangan (More or Less) I first heard Dan Mangan at the Dawson City music festival in 2010. I love all of Dan’s music, and have heard him perform live several times since Dawson City. I can relate to this song so much because it has a sense of humour about comparing life before and after having kids. I think many parents can relate to this feeling. I definitely caught a cold the first summer after my son was born and remember feeling keenly aware what a wimp I was with any cold or illness before having kids.

Pacific Opera Victoria hosted Jeremy Dutcher a few years ago. I couldn’t attend the presentation due to two small children and a partner that had an evening commitment, but when I heard him sing, I remember just standing in my kitchen transfixed as I watched his performance online. I think he is such a beautiful singer! I am inspired by how he has created music alongside, accompanied, and created new harmonies, all inspired by the music of his ancestors. The entire album is phenomenal, but I really love Ultestakon by Jeremy Dutcher (Wolastoqiyik Lintawakonawa) 

Simran Claire, mezzo-soprano and Civic Engagement Artist with Pacific Opera

Dola Re from Devdas
Bollywood music was the soundtrack of my childhood. In the movies, each song is treated as an opportunity for an elaborate dance number, often suspending the storyline of the film for eight minutes at a time. My siblings and I grew up watching compilation DVDs of all the best Bollywood songs, copying the dances in front of the TV. The score from Devdas (2002), is iconic in our household; the CD is still in steady rotation, 18 years on. l love the music because it is so nuanced, drawing from Indian classical tradition. I chose Dola Re because it features Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit, two of my favourite actresses and true QUEENS of Bollywood.

Party (feat. Andre 300)- Beyonce
I, like many others, am a huge fan of Beyonce. I’ve loved her since I was a preteen and have gone whole years of my life listening exclusively to her music. She’s an incredible singer (with a low C!!!!! goals), and her music is excellent, but what I find most inspiring about Beyonce is her stage presence. The way she commands a stage is second to none. Her Coachella set in 2018 (which I watched via livestream the morning after it happened) is one of the best performances I’ve ever seen.

A Case of You- Joni Mitchell
A Case of You by Joni Mitchell is probably my favourite song ever. Everything about it is beautiful. “Love is touching souls.” I could cry just thinking about it. Also it is an amazing road trip song for when you’ve been in the car all day and your voice is hoarse from talking and singing and the sun is gone but the moon isn’t out yet. (Me??? A romantic??)

Dopo notte from Ariodante by G.F. Handel with Lorraine Hunt Lieberson and the Freiburger Barockorchester, conducted by Nicholas McGegan
I had to include Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in this playlist because she is someone whose singing I really admire. Lorraine’s voice was warm, flexible, and filled with soul, which is everything I’m trying to be. I chose her recording of Dopo Notte because a) I think the singing is magic and b) Handel is the king of bops.

Honey – Robyn and forever – Charli XCX
I mostly listen to pop music, and these two albums have been in heavy rotation for the last while. Honey by Robyn is one of my all-time favourite songs, the synths are so lush!! And forever by Charli XCX has played on a loop in my brain for the past six months. When I was in Victoria for Garden of Alice, this is what I played on my daily walk to rehearsal.

Charlotte Siegel, Soprano and Civic Engagement Artist with Pacific Opera

Choosing just six pieces that have meaning to me was nearly impossible! I owe so many of my favourite memories to different songs and musical experiences. I’ve chosen a playlist of firsts.

First distinctive emotional reactions – Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers
This song was the first to make me realize I was a romantic. I spent a lot of free time during my teens watching rom-coms, and wishing Patrick Swayze made more movies.

Hearing Sugar Bum Bum by Lord Kitchener at my first concert in Trinidad made me realize how much I loved and respected my Trinidadian culture.

Will I from Rent, by Pascal and Larson featuring Aaron Lohr, Wayne Wilcos and the Cast of the Motion Picture
Rent will always have a special place in my heart. I remember first watching it at my friend’s house at eight years old. It changed how I saw the world, and also sparked my love of musical theatre.

Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op.24 by Samuel Barber, with Leontyne Price, soprano
This is one of the first classical pieces that took me out of myself. I just understood every part of it. I used to have it on repeat during my hour commute to and from school in undergrad. It’s still what I listen to when I need reminding of why I love what I do.

Addio, del passato from  La Traviata by G. Verdi with Maria Callas, soprano
La Traviata was the first opera I saw that made me feel the power of classical music and singing. I remember gasping and almost falling out of my chair as the final curtain came down in Act three. I desperately wanted more and fell in love with the captivating music Violetta sings.

Last but not least, is Shania Twain’s Man, I Feel like a Woman. It’s one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of my Zaidie. He loved music and singing this song. My mom always says he knew I would end up on stage, turns out he was right!