VIMF Canadian Repertoire

For the final round of the Vancouver International Music Competition (VIMC), competitors may perform a work by a Canadian composer as one of their selections. The Canadian Music Centre (CMC) has a large collection of sheet music by Canadian composers available for preview, purchase, and download. Performers are allowed to choose an alternative composition by a Canadian composer. However, the work must be a published work by a Canadian composer. Original works composed by the performer are not permitted. The CMC website has an advanced search option for finding works, but you must create a free account to listen to recordings on the website.  

Showcasing many Canadian compositions alongside classical repertoire, The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) has a graded music book series for all of the instruments featured in the VIMC. The RCM has a syllabus for each instrument free to download with repertoire and etudes for each difficulty level. Music found in their book series is indicated in each syllabus with an arrow bullet symbol (►).  Music books for each instrument can be purchased at the RCM online bookstore. Canadian composers featured in the Celebration series for piano include: 

  • Joanne Bender
  • Boris Berlin
  • John Burge
  • Stephen Chatman
  • Diane Chouinard
  • Jean Coulthard
  • Robert (R.) Nathaniel Dett
  • Christine Donkin
  • Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté
  • Pierre Gallant
  • Anne Crosby Gaudet
  • Janet Gieck
  • Chilly Gonzales
  • Susan Griesdale
  • Ruth Watson Henderson
  • Alexina Louie
  • Andrew Markow
  • Rebekah Maxner
  • David McIntyre
  • Linda Niamath
  • Lorna Paterson
  • Oscar Peterson
  • Clifford Poole
  • Teresa Richert
  • Frederick Silvester
  • Ann Southam
  • Court Stone
  • Nancy Telfer

This is not a full list of Canadian composers featured in the RCM book series as there are other Canadian composers featured in RCM books for other instruments.

The Canadian Music Centre has provided repertoire suggestions below. The recommended age categories and approximate lengths of some single-movement work are detailed. Click the title of each work to visit the CMC website, listen to a recording (free account needed), download a non-printable score preview, and see score purchasing options.

The age categories:

  • Junior Talent: ages 8 and under
  • Young Talent: ages 9–12
  • Young Artists: ages 13–17
  • Artists: ages 18–30

Selected Repertoire

Piano

Violin

Cello

Harp

Clarinet

Phases by Barbara Pentland (first movement) (3 minutes) — Junior/Young Talent

Caroline’s tune by Malcolm Forsyth (RCM 4) (clarinet & piano) — Junior/Young Talent

Vocalise no. 2 by Murray Adaskin (4 minutes) — Young Artists

Windwalker by Elma Miller (2.5 minutes) — Young Artists

The lake in the mountains by James Gayfer (2 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Young Artists

Six studies for clarinet by Arsenio Giron (any movement) — Young Artists

Four short pieces by Violet Archer (6 minutes) — Young Artists

Prelude to Ashes of Soldiers by Colin Eatock (4 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Young Artists

Romance by Daniel Friedman (4 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Young Artists

Yes, It’s Blues-Time! by Maya Badian (7 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Young Artists

Jewish dances by Milton Barnes (4.5 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Young Artists

Allegro, op. 14 by Vernon Murgatroyd (5 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Young Artists

Piscoleries by Daniel Pilon (3 minutes) — Young Artists

Doina by León Zuckert (4.5 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Young Artists

Capriccio, op. 78 by Michael Conway Baker (8 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Artists

Dance, improvisation and song by John Hawkins (10 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Artists

Cantilena Veni Creator Spiritus by Norbert Palej (9 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Artists

Étude pour Clarinette Seule by Bruce Mather (6 minutes) — Artists

Images Entre Nous by Phil Nimmons (10 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Artists

The Weather inside by Don Ross (8.5 minutes) (clarinet & piano) — Artists

Sonata for clarinet and piano by Oskar Morawetz (10 minutes) — Artists

Lines by Harry Freedman (8 minutes) — Artists

Cadenza by John Weinzweig (6 minutes) — Artists

Wandering by Karen Sunabacka (4.5 minutes) — Artists

Flute

Elegy by Michael Conway Baker (4 minutes) (flute & piano) — Junior/Young Talent

Star-gazing by Nancy Telfer (5 minutes) (flute & piano) — Junior/Young Talent

Generations by Michael Conway Baker (4 minutes) (flute & piano) — Junior/Young Talent

Ballroom scene by Milton Barnes (any movement) (flute & keyboard) — Junior/Young Talent

Little Spanish dance by León Zuckert (2 minutes) (flute & piano) — Young Artists

Some summertime by Michael Conway Baker (4 minutes) — Young Artists

Birthday notes by John Weinzweig (2.5 minutes) — Young Artists

Cette obscure clarté qui tombe des étoiles by Paul Steenhuisen (4 minutes) (flute & CD) — Young Artists

Slink by Stephen Chatman (4 minutes) — Young Artists

Sonatina by Barbara Pentland (8 minutes) — Young Artists

Riffs by John Weinzweig (any three movements) — Young Artists

Chiaroscuro by Heather Schmidt (5 minutes) (flute & piano) — Young Artists

Yong by Paul Douglas (4 minutes) — Artists

Warning! Gustnadoes Ahead by Derek Charke (6 minutes) (flute & CD) — Artists

Five Miniatures by William McCauley (8.5 minutes) (flute & piano) — Artists

Sonata for Flute and Piano by Srul Irving Glick (16 minutes) — Artists

Concertante for flute and piano by Talivaldis Kenins (16 minutes) — Artists

Sonata for flute and piano by Oskar Morawetz (12 minutes) — Artists

Quatre monodies by Clermont Pépin (6.5 minutes) — Artists

Sonata for flute and piano by Michael Conway Baker (13 minutes) — Artists