Len Enns won't forget the Tuesday when he checked the Juno website and saw his name listed among the nominees.
I feel terrific about it!
"Nocturne" was composed specifically for the DaCapo Chamber Choir by Enns back in 2005. He has been conducting the choir for 12 years now, and has also conducted the Chapel Choir at Conrad Grebel for 30 years. Aside from directing the choirs and releasing numerous CDs with them, Enns has released 2 CDs of his own over the years entitled, "Hammer and Wind" (chamber music) and "Northward" (choral music). Various instruments are used for his music including but not limited to saxaphone, piano, organ, and vocals.
I've written for almost all acoustical instruments, including full orchestra, but much of my work has been for choir.
Enns is often inspired by text, especially for choral pieces. The text Enns used for this piece is from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, in which Lorenzo is describing the music of heaven to Jessica. "I tried to recreate, in the music, a moment of engaged, engergized, near-magical reality; the closest picture of this is stars playing hide and seek with the curtains of northern lights on a prairie winter night." Other inspirations also include the group he writes the piece for as he can then write according to their talents and abilities.
Enns is very thankful to everyone who has been a part in this accomplishment. He extends great thanks to the DaCapo Chamber Choir and Earl McCluskie (recording engineer) for the sound recording.
The jury never looks at the score, it's all based on the recording. It wouldn't have been a nomination without them.
Enns was very vocal about the importance of the choir to him saying:
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that sing.
He also extends a general thanks to Conrad Grebel University College for their support in his work.
Enns and his wife plan on attending the Junos in St. John's Newfoundland on April 17 with the Awards Presentation on April 18.