The Idea of North: Sibelius, Gould and Symbolic Landscapes

As an associate professor of Music at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Dr. Laura Gray teaches Music History, Opera, Aesthetics, and World Music. Her passion however, as well as her main areas of research and publication, lies in the music of Jean Sibelius, the 20th-Century British Symphony, and early 20th-century music criticism and aesthetics.

Dr. Gray is presenting The Benjamin Eby Lecture on Friday, November 27th, 2009 at 7:30pm in the Conrad Grebel Chapel on “The Idea of North: Sibelius, Gould and Symbolic Landscapes.” This lecture will focus on the mythical "North" and how this symbolic landscape has been imprinted on two cultural icons - the Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius, and the Canadian musical figure, Glenn Gould. Using Gould’s 1967 radio programme "The Idea of North" as a point of departure, Dr. Gray will explore through such themes as isolation, wilderness and genius how Gould and Sibelius have in effect become symbolic landscapes themselves.

For more information, contact infocguc@uwaterloo.ca or call at 519-885-0220 x24264