Vicky Chow – Frank Horvat: The Banff Suite

Frank Horvat
The Banff Suite (2021)

The Banff Suite was born during a four-week residency I undertook at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in the fall of 2021. Attending a residency at this renowned cultural institution had been a lifelong dream, and I was honoured to be the first artist back on-site during their gradual reopening amid the pandemic. The campus was unusually quiet–eerily so–but the tranquility of the surrounding landscape was restorative. After many months spent isolated in my Toronto home, it felt exhilarating to immerse myself in such a pristine natural environment, where inspiration felt as abundant as the mountain air.
During my stay, I composed an eight-part suite for solo piano inspired by the many hiking trails in and around Banff–paths that my wife and I explored together. Each piece is inspired by a specific trail. These compositions seek to capture not only the natural beauty of each setting but also the physical effort required to experience them and the deep emotional and spiritual impact they left behind.
Composing this suite was my way of preserving and sharing the deeply personal, transformative experience I had in Banff. I hope these pieces transport listeners, if only for a moment, to the wild beauty of the Rockies–and inspire the same sense of wonder and reverence that I felt. – Frank Horvat

TRACKS

Sulphur Mountain
Sundance Canyon
In Town
Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain
Johnston Canyon
Bow River
Moraine Lake
Lake Louise

CREDITS:
Vicky Chow, pianist
Frank Horvat, composer
Recorded at Imagine Sound Studios, Toronto, Canada, on September 18 and 19, 2024.
Produced by Frank Horvat.
Engineered, edited, mixed, and mastered by Dennis Patterson.
Cover photo by Michael Benz.
Graphic Design by Lisa Horvat.

The Banff Suite is available from

Many thanks to the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, the Ontario Arts Council, the SOCAN Foundation, and to all Nations who live, work, and play on this land, helping to steward, honour, and celebrate this special place.

VICKY CHOW
Hong Kong/Canadian/American pianist Vicky Chow has been described as “brilliant” (New York Times) and “one of our era’s most brilliant pianists” (Pitchfork). Since joining the Bang on a Can All-Stars in 2009, she has collaborated and worked with composers/artists/ensembles/orchestras such as Tania León, Meredith Monk, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Terry Riley, George Lewis, John Zorn, Julia Wolfe, David Lang, Michael Gordon, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Sasha Waltz Dance Company, Doug Varone Dance Company, BBC Orchestra, LA Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Symphonietta Riga, Alarm Will Sound, International Contemporary Ensemble, The Knights, Wild Up, Philip Glass Ensemble, Tyshawn Sorey, Andy Akiho, Gong Linna, Kronos Quartet, Longleash Trio, Trinity Choir, Wet Ink Ensemble among others. www.vickychow.com

FRANK HORVAT
Frank Horvat is a multi-genre composer whose compositions take listeners on a journey through the depths of emotion. Horvat has carved a niche for himself among today’s composers, wearing his fragile heart on his sleeve (CBC Classical). Frank Horvat is one of the most inventive songwriters to come out of the contemporary scene in Canada (WholeNote Magazine). He explores different themes, ranging from love to the environment and mental health. In this fast-paced world, his music invites audiences to pause. Each note reveals deeply personal stories while leaving room for listeners to ponder their own. Frank’s music is featured on over twenty albums and has premiered on concert stages spanning five continents, resonating through theater, film, and the airwaves, weaving its way into the fabric of our cultural consciousness. www.frankhorvat.com