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Over the years the choir has built up an extensive
repertoire which continues to grow each season. The ESMC performs a wide variety of choral
music, almost exclusively without accompaniment. Selections range from the classic
harmonies of Bortniansky's "Ich bete an die Macht der Liebe" to the modern sound
of "Chuehreiheli," composed in 1995 for the choir by Hans Kennel to imitate the
natural harmonics of the alphorn. As one might expect from a Swiss choir there
is a
number of yodels as well, although these are not a major part of the repertoire. The choir
sings in all four official Swiss languages (German, French, Italian and Romansch), with
some selections in English and around Christmastime the occasional foray
into Latin or Ukrainian.
A disciplined approach to the music has had its rewards. These have included first prizes in competition in Milwaukee (Wisconsin) in 1985, Calgary
(Alberta) in 1988, in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) in 1997, in New Glarus
(Wisconsin) in 2003 .
Our home city recognized these achievement with Edmonton's Salute
to Excellence Award.
In 1991 ESMC toured Switzerland, staging eleven concerts in
two weeks. Four years later the choir returned to Switzerland for its second tour. In June
1995, in Goldau, the choir competed against 56 other ensembles and came away
with first place laurels. A third tour to Switzerland took place in
2001.
In the spring of 1998 the choir placed second in the biennial
CBC Choral Competition, and that fall we were
honoured to be asked to sing at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Swiss Society of
Vancouver.
The rewards have taken different forms as well. In addition
to commissioning new music, the choir has been privileged to receive offers from composers
to premiere new pieces.
In 1991 ESMC recorded its first CD,
My Heimet. By
1996-97 we felt it was time to take to the studio again. The "studio" was Knox
Metropolitan United Church, where we laid down 19 tracks for
Kamerade. Early in
2005, the recordings for our third CD were completed. This CD became
available in the summer of 2005.
In the summer of 2005, the ESMC, at the occasion of
its 25th anniversary, toured
Switzerland with a side trip to France. Concerts were
given in many cities and towns.
In the spring of 2006, we
toured South
America, and gave performances to the Swiss Communities in Chile,
Uruguay and Argentina. This was followed, in June 2006, by a
trip to Toledo, Ohio, to participate in the
NASSA Swiss Singing Festival.
In 2007, we stayed in Alberta, where we gave a number of concerts. We also took this opportunity to
record a CD with Christmas music (our 4th CD). It
became available in August 2008, well in time for Christmas.
In 2008, we participated at the
Sängerfest
in Portland, Oregon (July 2008) and toured Central Canada.
In 2009, we
participated at the
Sängerfest in Banff (June 2009). We're also planning a
Spring Concert and a trip to Switzerland in 2010. In 2011, we
will be participating at the USSSPC in Vancouver, BC (Pacific Swiss
Singing Societies).
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