Ice Storm Symphony

Excerpts of the premiere of the Ice Storm Symphony, by the Orchestre classique de Montréal and Alain Trudel.

Winner of the Juno Award for Best Classical Album (Large Ensemble), 2024

«★★★★★ Nothing short of sublime. […] This is the orchestra at its best.»

– La Scena Musicale, Zenith Wolfe

«★★★★ ½ Very well-written pictorial music. […] An important heritage record.»

– Le Devoir, Christophe Huss

«A testament to the power of art in conveying the human experience»

– Mountain Lake PBS, Gen’s Delights

«A vivid, colourful symphony.»

– The Whole Note, Michael Schulman

«A first symphony, and not just any old symphony.»

– Ludwig van Montréal, Caroline Rodgers

Historical Context

In the winter of 1998, one of the worst natural disasters in Canada’s history literally fell from the sky. A sea of ice spread from Eastern Ontario to the New Brunswick border and paralyzed all of Southern Quebec. This “ice storm crisis” left half of Quebecers in total darkness.

Inspired above all by the light that sprung from this darkness, as well as the courage and humanity that emanated from the crisis, the Ice Storm Symphony was composed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of this historic event.

Beyond the Storm

The Ice Storm Symphony evokes various aspects of the ice storm and gives the public an opportunity to remember its highlights. It also serves to raise public awareness about the importance of our ecosystem, as well as the fragile position in which humans can find themselves while facing climate change. It sheds light on the responsibility we have vis-à-vis our environment and our planet. At the same time, this creation is inspired by various examples of great generosity experienced through the crisis, reminding us of how empathetic and heroic we can be.

A Four-Movement Symphony

The four movements of the symphony correspond to four themes of the crisis:

I. Turmoil
Dramatic and threatening music gradually increases in tension and announces the beginning of the storm. Several musical effects evoke, among other things, the cold wind, the drops of ice rain, the
trees and pylons falling underneath the weight of the ice. The movement describes both the weather turmoil and the emotional turmoil of the people who lived through the storm.

II. Warmth
During the crisis, several people sought refuge with family members or friends who still had electricity or a fireplace. For many of them, the welcoming homes and reunions warmed their bodies as much as their hearts. Instead of a minuet or a scherzo, the second movement is a Quebec folk reel of a sort. This movement recalls evenings in the good old days when people used to gather around a fire. It also reflects the precious and necessary overall support that emanated from the storm.

III. Darkness
One of the peculiarities of the ice storm crisis was the total darkness that prevailed at night because of the absence of city lights. The third movement of the symphony, with its soft and mysterious music, makes us feel a dreamlike calmness. It is a testimony to the beauty of the starry sky and the feeling of ultimate vulnerability that seized us during those dark nights. Our general paralysis will be transcribed in the music, creating the impression that time has stopped. For this movement, the stage lights are turned off (musicians use stand lights) in order to bring the audience back to its memories of darkness. The movement is also a tribute to those who died during the crisis (such as the cellist Lotte Brott, founding member of the Orchestre classique de Montréal) and will serve as a moment of contemplation.

IV. Light

The final movement is a great crescendo of positive energy that represents the return of electricity, light, and normal life. Throughout the movement, the stage lights are turned back on to represent the houses that gradually got their electricity back. The movement is pulsed by snare rhythms, reminiscing the army that was deployed to lend a hand. As always, in times of disaster, misfortune comes and goes, but people stick together and what remains above all are stories of great strength and resilience.

Instrumentation: 2222 / 4231 / hrp / timp+2 / strings

Duration: 40 minutes

Suggested program:

Beethoven: Symphony #6, « Pastoral »
Debussy: La Mer (The Sea)
Vaughan Williams: Sinfonia Antarctica
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Northen compositeurs, e.g.: Grieg, Sibelius, Nielson

Commissioned by the Orchestre classique de Montréal, ROCO, the Orchestre symphonique de Laval, the Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke, and Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières.

Premiere: June 20th, 2023, by the Orchestre classique de Montréal and Alain Trudel, at the Maison symphonique de Montréal. Nominee for the Prix Opus award « Premiere of te Year », 2024.

Discography: Ice Storm Symphony was recorded by the Orchestre classique de Montréal and conductor Jacques Lacombe, and is featured on the album Symphonie de la tempête de verglas, published in 2023 by ATMA Classique. Nominee for the Prix Opus award « Album of the Year, modern and contemporary music », and for the Juno Award « Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble) », 2024.