WCGS - Robinovitch

Sid Robinovitch

A native of Manitoba, Sid Robinovitch received his Doctorate in Communications from the University of Illinois and taught social sciences at York University in Toronto. Since 1977 he has devoted himself to musical composition, studying at Indiana University and at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. He presently lives in Winnipeg, Canada where he works as a composer and teacher.

Having written for a wide variety musical media, Robinovitch has received commissions from performers such as the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Canadian Piano Trio and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. His works have been frequently broadcast on CBC radio, including original pieces based on folk-tales from around the world and arrangements of Judeo-Spanish folk songs. In 1990 his Sons of Jacob for violin and piano was nominated for a Juno award as best classical composition, and in 1991 his Adieu Babylon was the commissioned work at the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition.

While many of Robinovitch¹s works are rooted in traditional or folk material, they often have a distinctly contemporary flavour as well. HisSuite for Klezmer Band and Orchestra, for example, combines the spirit of East European folk melody with modern symphonic technique, while Dreaming Lolita is a dramatic retelling in poetic form of the famous Nabokov novel. Even in his setting of the psalms from the Bible, Psalms of Experience , the choral textures are infused with elements of Balinese music and rhythmic chanting.

In addition to his concert works, Robinovitch has written music for film, radio and TV, where he is probably best-know for his theme for CBC-TV¹s satirical comedy series, "The Newsroom".

Klezmer Suite, a recording devoted entirely to his music performed by the Winnipeg Symphony under the direction of Bramwell Tovey, was nominated for a 2002 Juno award and received a Prairie Music Award for outstanding classical recording.

		Michael Matthews \| David Letkemann Sid Robinovitch A native of Manitoba, Sid Robinovitch received his Doctorate in Communications from the University of Illinois and taught social sciences at York University in Toronto. Since 1977 he has devoted himself to musical composition, studying at Indiana University and at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. He presently lives in Winnipeg, Canada where he works as a composer and teacher. Having written for a wide variety musical media, Robinovitch has received commissions from performers such as the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Canadian Piano Trio and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. His works have been frequently broadcast on CBC radio, including original pieces based on folk-tales from around the world and arrangements of Judeo-Spanish folk songs. In 1990 his Sons of Jacob for violin and piano was nominated for a Juno award as best classical composition, and in 1991 his Adieu Babylon was the commissioned work at the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition. While many of Robinovitch¹s works are rooted in traditional or folk material, they often have a distinctly contemporary flavour as well. HisSuite for Klezmer Band and Orchestra, for example, combines the spirit of East European folk melody with modern symphonic technique, while Dreaming Lolita is a dramatic retelling in poetic form of the famous Nabokov novel. Even in his setting of the psalms from the Bible, Psalms of Experience , the choral textures are infused with elements of Balinese music and rhythmic chanting. In addition to his concert works, Robinovitch has written music for film, radio and TV, where he is probably best-know for his theme for CBC-TV¹s satirical comedy series, "The Newsroom". Klezmer Suite, a recording devoted entirely to his music performed by the Winnipeg Symphony under the direction of Bramwell Tovey, was nominated for a 2002 Juno award and received a Prairie Music Award for outstanding classical recording.