Sydney Guillaume

Sydney Guillaume
Born
Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
GenresContemporary Classical
OccupationsComposer and conductor
Years active2006–present
Websitesydneyguillaume.com

Sydney Guillaume (born 1981 or 1982) is a Haitian-American composer of contemporary classical music. He is known primarily for his choral compositions.

Early life and education

Sydney Guillaume was born in 1981 or 1982 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.[1] His father, Gabriel Guillaume, is a poet.[1] His mother's name is Marlene.[2] He has two older brothers.[2] Sydney Guillaume began piano lessons at the age of 6.[1] He and his family moved to Miami in 1994 to escape civil instability.[2] He began composing and singing choir in school.[1] Guillaume credits Morten Lauridsen as an early influence.[1] He won a piano scholarship from the Caribbean Music Club at the age of 17.[3]

At the University of Miami, Guillaume studied composition with an emphasis on media writing and production.[1] Guillaume was encouraged in composition by Jo-Michael Scheibe. Guillaume graduated in 2004.[4]

Career

At university, although Guillaume originally wanted to write for film scores, a piece that he composed for the school choir, Calinda, attracted the attention of choral directors who started to commission him for works.[1][2] Seraphic Fire commissioned Guillaume for a piece, Dominus Vobiscum, which premiered in 2007.[2]

Guillaume moved to Los Angeles on or before 2007,[2] where he composed music for films and documentaries for Loyola Productions.[1] In 2013, Guillaume formed a touring sextet where he is conductor and writer.[1]

On or before 2019, Guillaume moved to Portland, Oregon.[5] In 2023, the Portland-based Choral Arts Ensemble performed a concert dedicated to Guillaume's music.[1] Guillaume wrote "A Taste of Freedom," an orchestral and choral piece, with Lloyd Reshard, Jr., which debuted in 2023.[4]

Musical style

Guillaume's choral compositions start with an existing text.[1] Frequently Sydney Guillaume collaborates with his father, Gabriel Guillaume.[1] Many song texts are written in Haitian Creole.[1] Guillaume names Haitian roots music as an inspiration for his work, including the band Boukman Eksperyans, who uses both traditional Haitian rhythms and electric guitar.[1]

Patrick Dupré Quigley said in 2007 that Guillaume's music combined the formal classical form with Caribbean harmonies and rhythms in a genuine way.[2] Patrick De Lyser, musical director of the Choral Arts Ensemble, said "His music is very well-crafted, very rhythmic, sometimes unexpectedly complex and yet accessible as well, so it connects with singers and audience."[1]

Guillaume stated that it is important for him to write parts that are interesting for every voice part and instrument.[1][4]

Works

Choral works

  • Kalinda, SSAATTBB (2002, published with Walton Music)
  • Pour Toi, Mère, SSAATTBB with piano accompaniment (2003)
  • Anmwe, SSAATTBB a cappella with soprano solo (2005)
  • Touched in Love, SATB with piano accompaniment (2005, published with Colla Voce Music)
  • Men Nou SSA with piano accompaniment (2006)
  • St. Francis de Sales Mass, SATB with organ (2006/2008)
  • Dominus Vobiscum, SATB a cappella (2007, published with Walton Music)
  • Twa Tanbou, SATB a cappella (2007, published with Walton Music)
  • Koudjay, SSA a cappella (2007, published with Walton Music)
  • Mama Afrika, SSAATTBB and percussion (2008, published with Walton Music)
  • Wipip!!!, SATB a cappella (2008, published with Santa Barbara Music Publishing)
  • Lakay, SSA and orchestra (2008)
  • Ego Sum, SSAATTBB a cappella (2009, published with Walton Music)
  • Peyi Mwen, arranged for SA with flute and piano accompaniment (2010)
  • Au-delà du Chagrin, SATBB a cappella (2010, published with Walton Music)
  • Diplomasi, SATB with divisi a cappella (2010)
  • N ap Debat, TTBB with drums (2010)
  • Kinalaganach, SSATB with brass quartet and drum (2010)
  • Fèt Chanpèt, SATB with drums (2010)
  • Ayiti (Lesklavaj / Delivrans / Pèseverans), SATB and baritone solo with percussion (2011)
  • Plakatap, SSA with percussion (2011)
  • La Providence, SSA a cappella (2011)
  • Tap-Tap, SATB a cappella (2011)
  • Te Deum, SATBB a cappella (2011)
  • Le Dernier Voyage, SSAATTBB a cappella (2012)
  • Chapo Pou Fanm, SSAA a cappella (2011)
  • Gagòt, TTBB a cappella (2013)
  • Blogodop, SATB with drums (2013)
  • Akeem, SSA and piano, string quartet, or string orchestra (2014)
  • Nou Se Limyè, SATB with piano accompaniment (2014)
  • Yon Monn Nouvo, SA and SATB with piano and percussion (2014)
  • Kanaval, SATB or SSAA with percussion (2015)
  • Musique, SA and SATB with piano accompaniment (2015)
  • Kanpe La, TTBB a cappella (2016)
  • Dilèm, SSA with woodwind quintet (2016)
  • Tchaka, SATB with percussion (2016)
  • Ranpono, SATB a cappella (2016)
  • Ansanm Ansanm, SATB with conga drum (2017)
  • Alleluia Amen, SATB double choir a cappella (2018)
  • Réfugié, Mon Frère, SSA with piano accompaniment and optional string quartet (2018)
  • Renmen Renmen, TTBB a cappella (2019)
  • Leve Kanpe, SATB with percussion (2019)
  • Ay'bobo Pou Yo, SATB with percussion (2020)
  • Kouraj, SATB with percussion (2020)
  • Finding a Home, SATB with percussion (2020)
  • C'est Beau La Vie, SATB a cappella (2022)
  • Nou La, SATB and soprano solo (2022)
  • This, Too, Shall Pass, SATB with piano accompaniment (2022)
  • G on Jan Pou Ye, SATB with percussion (2023)
  • A Taste of Freedom, SATB with orchestra (2023)
  • Douce Espérance, SATB divisi a cappella (2023)
  • I Will Not Look Away, TTBB with piano accompaniment (2024)

Large ensemble works

  • Lakay, SSA chorus and orchestra (2008)
  • Akeem, SSA chorus and string orchestra (2014)
  • Renesans, for wind ensemble (2019)
  • Lavil Okap, for orchestra (2020)
  • A Taste of Freedom, SATB chorus and orchestra (2023)

Chamber works

  • Lago, for woodwind quintet (2004)
  • Lespwa, for 4-part cello ensemble with optional 5th part (2012)
  • Imbroglio, for trumpet, clarinet, and string quartet (2014)
  • The View, for trumpet, clarinet, and string quartet (2018)

Solo works

  • Angoisse, for solo piano (1999)
  • Probono, for solo piano (2002)

Film scores

  • Who Cares About the Saints? (2009)[6]
  • The Real Deal (2014)[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Campbell, Brett (13 October 2022). "Making music, Port-au-Prince to Portland". Oregon ArtsWatch. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Johnson, Lawrence A. (16 May 2007). "Classical, Caribbean in the same voice". The Miami Herald. p. 4A – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Moss, Bea (27 August 2000). "Fairchild Garden sponsors wine-tasting gala". The Miami Herald. p. C12 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c Overstreet, Audrey (2 February 2023). "Spokane Symphony will perform world premiere of a new work by Portland composer Sydney Guillaume". The Spokesman-Review.
  5. ^ Gotthelf, Liz (10 May 2019). "Original composition by guest debuts in Biddeford Thursday". Journal Tribune. pp. A1, A3 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Sydney Guillaume - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Our Work - Loyola Productions". Loyola Productions. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
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