Macaws Cawling

Macaws Cawling is a programmatic work that follows a flock of macaw parrots through their travels. The opening harmonics symbolize an approaching flock. A repetitive septuplet figure with a bass melody in harmonics mimics a conflict for position at the front. Near the middle of the piece, the parrots plunge into a body of water; they squabble and caw for each other, then encounter a thunderstorm. After the storm passes, a slow largo section settles over the piece as the flock prepares to take off and fade into the distance.

Sylvia Rickard (b. 1937, Toronto) began piano studies at age seven and earned a BA in French, Russian, and German from UBC in 1959. After living in several countries and an eleven-year break from music, she returned to composition through private lessons with Jean Coulthard, leading to prize-winning works, CBC radio broadcasts, and performances across Canada. In 1999 she was invited as the first resident composer at the Casalmaggiore International Chamber Music Festival in Italy. She is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre.