The Canadian Music Centre released it on Novemjust in time for our concert. It is a two track CD with the story in English and French. In December 2018 Roch Carrier recorded it with the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gemma New.

It was first performed in Québec in 2015 by L’orchestra symphonique de Québec with Carrier narrating in French.Ībigail Richardson-Schulte introduces The Hockey Sweater prior to performances by the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, where she is composer-in-residence. Since the premiere in 2012 it has been performed by most major Canadian orchestras, often with Roch Carrier relating his story.

At one point the rest of the entire orchestra joins in using the page of their scores to bring the story to a close. Amongst the unusual instruments the percussionists are asked to play are hockey sticks, a vuvuzela, broken construction tiles, and a whistle.She played the church bells and organ and wanting to recreate the sounds of a hockey village hockey rink in 1946 asked him about the sounds he remembered from his childhood. The composer accompanied Roch Carrier back to his childhood home in Sainte-Justine.There is a lot of humour, there is nostalgia, there is a bit of folklore, allusions.” He later remarked “It’s not (just) sport or bombastic music - it’s subtle, it’s a lot of variety, it’s entertaining. However, after hearing her initial sketches and discussing ideas he felt she has captured the spirt of the time and place. Carrier was not entirely convinced that Richardson-Schulte was the right composer to adapt his iconic story.Her goal was “not to put us in a hockey arena today, but a hockey arena of the past.” She was quick to accept the commission to adapt it for symphony orchestra.

Abigail Richardson-Schute first read The Hockey Sweater in Grade 4 and it became a favourite.

Like all good hockey periods it’s scheduled for 20 action-packed minutes.Ī few things about the orchestral version of The Hockey Sweater. What instruments does Richardson-Schulte use?Ģ flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons / 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 tuba / keyboard / percussion including hockey sticks and music scores Hockey-great Montréal Canadien goalie Ken Dryden hosted the concert. It was first performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra on with author Roch Carrier narrating. We lived in three places – the school, the church and the skating-rink – but our real life was the skating rink …” – The Hockey Sweater – Roch CarrierĪbigail Richardson-Schulte was commissioned to compose the work in 2011 by the NAC Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. “The winters of my childhood were long, long seasons.

The sweater roch carrier