Article by by Charlotte Myers
Edited by Bethany Elsworth
Carl Orff Canada has reached five decades. Yes, 50 years of our vibrant organization which started in 1974. Ten chapters across Canada have contributed to our remarkable history and we are going strong!
The stars aligned in May 2024 as we celebrated together in Vancouver, British Columbia at our 28th biennial conference. Constellation 2024 was the first opportunity to reacquaint with Orff colleagues face-to-face since Cascade 2018. We were thrilled to host an array of presenters from around the world as we acknowledged the celebration of our 50 years of existence.
The Next Ten Years/Les dix années suivantes 2014-2024 was published as an update to our 2014 book, The First Forty - les quarante première année (1974-2014). This current book continues to celebrate the Orff Schulwerk initiatives and events that have occurred across the country in the previous ten years. It was prepared for the national conference. The First Forty book is now digitized and available on the COC website: https://orffcanada.ca/50th-anniversary/
It’s Time! C’est le temps ! is Carl Orff Canada’s latest resource publication. These 24 original lessons relate to the many manifestations of time: seasons, clocks, musical meter, day / night, and how our lives are affected by time itself. This resource expresses the spirit of journeying through five decades of the Orff approach in Canada. Proceeds support Children’s Performances at COC conferences. The resource can be purchased as a digital version at https://orffcanada.ca/merchandise/
Star Song - Le Chant Des Étoiles composed by Marceline Moody was commissioned by COC and premiered at Constellation 2024 by the Alberta Chapter and attending delegates. It expressed the spirit of the conference with the words – “Music is uniting us in harmony. Music is the language of the stars. Singing, saying, dancing, playing on”. Download the full vocal score at https://orffcanada.ca/50th-anniversary/
Honorary patrons were announced during the conference proceedings. Morna-June Morrow (a charter member since 1974) and Barbara Haselbach (from the Orff Institute) were honoured as patrons of Carl Orff Canada. These two women have been influential in the initiation and progress of the Canadian association. It was a privilege to acknowledge their contribution to the association.
Texts on Theory and Practice of Orff-Schulwerk 1932-2010 has been translated to French by Françoise Grenier. This was acknowledged during our 50th celebrations. The French language is a fundamental part of Canadian culture and this translated book gives French speakers access to fundamental information about the existence of Orff-Schulwerk. For more information view the IOSFS website https://www.orff-schulwerk-forum-salzburg.org/basic-texts
Ostinato is Carl Orff Canada’s journal. Previous issues included historical articles and reflections from our past and present. The Fall 2024 issue is a wrap-up of our 50th Anniversary celebrations with a look to the future. Public access of current issues is given via https://orffcanada.ca/current-issue/
As I viewed Orff websites from around the world, I was aware of the universal connection and shared passion for music education. For Carl Orff Canada, we embraced this milestone by acknowledging our past and with the inspiration to approach future challenges with innovation and change.
If Carl could see us now!
Charlotte Myers
Chairperson 50th Anniversary Committee
Carl Orff Canada
댓글