http://www.sunabacka.com/music daily 0.75 2024-09-10 http://www.sunabacka.com/videos daily 0.75 2024-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1675788409299-ZO3476W8RIPYI9AVWB62/image-asset.jpg Videos - Curlicue by Karen Sunabacka. Performed by Darryl Friesen, Piano From album titled Curlicue. For more information about album find it here: Ravello Records https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1675788409299-ZO3476W8RIPYI9AVWB62/image-asset.jpg Videos - Curlicue by Karen Sunabacka. Performed by Darryl Friesen, Piano From album titled Curlicue. For more information about album find it here: Ravello Records https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1710279938297-NJRBXIQSDKDK7TN7W92J/image-asset.jpeg Videos - And Then I Crow for solo cello and electronics From 2007 - A piece for solo cello and electronics (mostly recorded voices!) Ben Bolt-Martin, Cello. Karen Sunabacka, Composer. Program Notes: And then I Crow is part of a piece that I have been working on since 2004. The electronic part was composed using mostly the recorded voices of six teenage girls in a Leader-in-Training (LIT) program and their two women leaders of which I was one. I gathered the recordings in June and July of 2004, while I was the Director of this LIT program at Manitoba Pioneer camp – a camp in the remote Canadian wilderness in northern Ontario. During my early twenties I worked at this camp for four months every summer. It was a wonderful experience, and I was always amazed by the changes and growth of the girls in the LIT program. I wanted to show others the resilience and strength of these teenage girls as they negotiated a challenging two-week canoe trip down a river and a demanding two-week leadership program at the site of the camp. With the permission of the camp and the girls in the program I documented as much as I could with a mini disc recorder. And then I Crow is the result of a small portion of my recordings. Each time I have led the LIT program there is always something that brings the group together. For the LIT girls of 2004, it was "crowing". “And then I Crow” tracks the development of this group identity. In the performance, the cello begins separately from the girls, similar to the early weeks of the program where each girl is trying to figure out how they fit into the group. At first the cello is mimicking and commenting on the conversations of the girls. Gradually as the girls develop their group identity, the cello also gets drawn into the conversation and becomes woven together with the voices of the girls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1710279732446-SHCYE2AKTGUL31R4TLDN/image-asset.jpg Videos - "Falling in the Water" for solo piano and electronics - Karen Sunabacka From the Curlicue Album. See YouTube Description for more information. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/5a5be72753450ac1202d5ec4/5a5be7c0652dea17cc2f3ade/1515972544487/ Videos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1725935313874-2VUXB5T997Z601LMUN7J/image-asset.jpeg Videos - ...our inner lives were entwined...embroidered with the same pattern (with Interview of Joyce) Commissioned and Premiered by Naomi Woo and Virtuosi Concerts (Winnipeg). Premiere Performance was an online performance during the Pandemic in March 2021. Pianist: Darryl Friesen Composer: Karen Sunabacka Title is from text by Joyce Clouston (Karen's Mom) who speaks at the beginning of this video. Program Notes: I started this piece by reflecting on home, the theme given to me by Naomi Woo. I have written many pieces about Manitoba’s big sky, the wind, the grasslands, the northern lights and the cold crisp winters. But as I consulted with my mom, Joyce Clouston, and read some of her recent work, I realized that home is also about deep relationships and deep connections. The title of this piece …our inner lives were entwined…embroidered with the same pattern is a quote from Joyce Clouston’s story titled My Sister/Myself. Joyce (my mom) was the third child in a family of 7 children. Her oldest sister, Beverley, was the first child in the family and was medically fragile and physically disabled after complications at birth and related days-long seizures at age 6. The family lived on a farm, and for many years Joyce often helped to ensure Beverley’s safety. My mom (Joyce) always felt close to Bev and watched as her sister struggled in a world where people with disabilities were often hidden in institutions and not valued. As a child I saw this relationship between my mom and her sister and felt a closeness to Bev as well, especially because she would stay with us on a regular basis. Bev was always so excited to see all of us! To explore the interconnectedness of my aunt and mom in music, I developed motives from the letters of their names and their nicknames. The opening states their nicknames with high notes: Bevvie = B E A A B E and Joycie = C A D C B E. I also created collections from their full names: Beverley and Joyce. In all pitch collections B and E are important pitches in the piece. During the faster sections, the Beverley pitch collections are in the left hand with the Joyce pitch collections in the right. Through transpositions and transformations of the pitch-material, presented in an arch-like form, I am depicting the ups and downs of their lives, their relationship with each other, and their relationships with those around them. Beverley was an amazing aunt who had a zeal for life, an ability to state the uncomfortable truth, and to love deeply. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1725935143405-1QKPQM0K3TUWIAZHHOTZ/image-asset.jpeg Videos - Hiding for solo piano, composed by Karen Sunabacka (1999) Karen Sunabacka completed "Hiding" during her undergraduate degree. It was premiered by Gordon Gerrard in February 2000. It was written to explore pitch-class sets and extended piano techniques. It is a solo piano piece that uses both "Pedal 2" and the strumming of the strings inside the piano. The main sections play with a waltz-like theme and complex rhythms between the left and right hands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1675788431601-UVF5HTM3WCPYA6B00B55/image.jpg Videos - Excerpt from: Mama's Painting: Louis Riel's Dream (2015) The end of the 2nd movement and beginning of 3rd movement where my mom relates how her mom discovered her Métis heritage and the ways she attempted to connect with her Indigenous ancestors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1594934154787-L49DUHV45Y6KOGO2YPZ9/image-asset.jpeg Videos - On a High Note: Composition! A fun conversation with fellow composers! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1594933699744-61TBU4E5JMQWTADEGHXE/image-asset.jpeg Videos - Convocation 2019- Conrad Grebel University College Commissioned Piece - We All Sing is presented by me with audience, choir and Graduates from 57:20 and 1:05:33 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1557706798027-V8OXXL5A18ZTQE1RYSAY/image-asset.jpeg Videos - Scott Meek plays Karen Sunabacka's "Curlicue" (2010) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1557706884557-X9ZMK7IAO5ZAS4ZAFJ43/image-asset.jpeg Videos - Groundswell's Karen Sunabacka & Hyper Flutist Cléo Palacio Quintin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1515973364839-WLIR3ZI9LASDZQ43K41P/image-asset.jpeg Videos - Sunabacka - Squeaky scratch tone (crunchy snow) This video demonstrates one of the string techniques used in two of my orchestral works: The Prairies and #DryColdConversations. I am using this technique to imitate the sound of walking on snow during a very cold day on the Canadian Prairies. http://www.sunabacka.com/home daily 1.0 2013-01-30 http://www.sunabacka.com/joyce-clouston daily 0.75 2025-10-15 http://www.sunabacka.com/worksbydate daily 0.75 2025-10-15 http://www.sunabacka.com/news daily 0.75 2025-10-15 http://www.sunabacka.com/gallery daily 0.75 2025-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723931586-PFFMN4XHJOFYRTNWVPQR/k_sunabacka_13.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1594933512744-0PIQBSESFU3CXUDR5XB4/17_DF.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723683318-RKZ8MSUZ4Y03I04LM7OP/KS_039.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723707732-37VWEGT537J2BB7B89V7/KS_041.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436724672207-EMOEOVUAE4FU874QSXPZ/Prov+Brazil+Music+Tour+319.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723648564-IX2N3A68SU1V6AGCEA42/KS_033.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723856028-DOCMV60TCOL8F0CLUHB7/15.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723739887-020I4BGD008P7Y8W1FN1/KS_042.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436724634589-RHYIGQMR1EO6GNTAB1BR/Prov+Brazil+Music+Tour+305.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723842569-NQKDZILHK75H1EO6EQZ7/14.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723551217-VQK5VWEV9ZNDSD2HHAKV/cello_photo.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723618680-1LUW5J5TREDMTDV8N17M/KS_025.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723802525-LFB5KUZCM5G6889AYUFT/KS_092.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723908758-T1QWDMW5LLHAUJVVAFWT/22.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436724683301-YFT2TRWSPKTKYQZC0CJ6/Prov+Brazil+Music+Tour+325.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436723585739-XK9AK9R96VGTD3JC2NX3/Karen_Sunabacka_2.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436724650332-DUSHMAXABFYLUA0DO24Y/IMG_2432.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1436724713607-08D9A3TTI8NZLZOM37D3/IMG_2314.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1760557963357-ND1PKQ6XNQWTNGXXMRQX/low-res241201GT3805.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1760557984856-QZVKIU6G294M41VH9QYM/low-res241201GT3846.jpg Gallery http://www.sunabacka.com/contact daily 0.75 2024-09-10 http://www.sunabacka.com/bio daily 0.75 2025-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/c9ac4e3e-864d-4e1e-b3e7-30fd7a6c619e/low-res220224GT2445.jpg Bio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1760557538519-CIKWIZ5STOJQYVFIEP2K/Headshots-018.jpg Bio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1760557578448-RILNWZYC5KWA62DAG1NR/low-res241201GT3805.jpg Bio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1760557587917-UT56V0H485WW6C1IYTMP/low-res241201GT3801.jpg Bio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/1760557808293-1WT5YSXLDVAS0SG92QC4/Karen+Sunabacka+2.jpg Bio http://www.sunabacka.com/crunchy-snow daily 0.75 2019-05-13 http://www.sunabacka.com/new-page daily 0.75 2024-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/569e3e8c-b20e-4da8-92ec-bc48c85da655/RR8074_Curlicue-1.jpeg Piano Solo Album - Curlicue Curlicue - Album Cover https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/339110f6-640a-4ff9-b227-f5833188cf68/RR8074_Curlicue-1.jpeg Piano Solo Album - Curlicue https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/6670e2a9-2a49-4f92-9255-d9533a232266/low-res220224GT8645-2.jpg Piano Solo Album - Curlicue - Make it stand out Karen Sunabacka and Darryl Friesen http://www.sunabacka.com/recordings-albums daily 0.75 2025-10-15 http://www.sunabacka.com/karen-and-joyce daily 0.75 2026-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/142b3ee1-b36c-4a9a-9521-f0fabd297fb5/low-res241201GT8879.jpg Karen and Joyce - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/03466229-cf87-4920-92ab-dfa5464e6ecd/Jack-the-Fiddler.jpg Karen and Joyce - Jack the Fiddler John Henry Clouston, ca. 1985 at the family farm in Cloverdale, near Selkirk, MB. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/0d11257f-5260-48c2-b7af-4d59482caf54/Bev-Joyce-2.jpg Karen and Joyce - Beverley and Joyce Beverley Clouston and Joyce Clouston ca. 1988 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/c9f8fa69-8ca3-4eba-b9bf-16502595d2a1/Lenore-Uniform.jpg Karen and Joyce - Lenore Clouston (nee Birston) Photo from ca. 1942 when she joined the Canadian Air Force. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/559f869ee4b0ae6f15c42e19/131b6b5d-48f4-4cc1-ae10-bc03ab1058ad/IMG_3432.jpeg Karen and Joyce Karen and Joyce at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity