Bruce Ruddell

Composer

Music Director, Poet, Musician, Playwright

Associate Composer-Canadian Music Centre

The Canadian League of Composers

Canadian Aboriginal Music Award-Toronto-2008

Herbert Drost Award- 2019 British Columbia Choral Federation

I traveled to Vermont on Friday October 11 to participate in National Indigenous Day and a three day celebration of my symphony, The Healing Heart of the First People of This land, and the film that tells the story of the creation of the work, The Healing Heart of Lushootseed. The Wyndham Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Hugh Keelan performed the symphony on Monday night, October 14 and they were fabulous!. The people of Vermont were gracious and kind. It was a magic journey. The next performance of the work is on March 7. The Seattle Symphony will perform the work for a second time in The Mark Taper Auditorium. The performance will be preceded by a screening of the film.

The Five Seasons-abridged- (twenty-five minutes) presented on Friday May 31, 2024, in Kirk Hall, Victoria BC. Six vocalists, eleven players and ten dancers.

I listened just now, before and after 5 AM. It’s just terrific. I love the composition and yr performers really kicked this upstairs with gorgeous expressive song flying out of them. Love their voices and ensemble sense. You got a hit here, mister. I’m sure audiences will love it every time. Peter Levitt- Poet

“It’s hard to find words to describe the excellence of the performance in every way: beautiful, expressive, strong yet poignant.”-audience member

“This work is timeless and will inspire audiences for generations. What you have conveyed is a gift and I thank you for it.”-audience member

“From its first notes, this work grips you and transports you. Technically remarkable, emotionally extraordinary, it’s a work of great power, beauty and insight. It’s a timeless and masterful achievement.”-audience member

The Healing Heart Of The First People Of This Land–

A Symphony– The Seattle Symphony–Mark Taper Auditorium 2006

“You have just heard a masterpiece“- Maestro Gerard Schwarz.

I can’t think of another piece of orchestral that has been as much of a living document as this one. I can’t wait to hear it again.-Dr. Ryan Dudenbostel-Director of Orchestral Studies-Universoty of Western Washington

The Healing Heart Of The First People Of This Land

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:

Wyndham Philharmonic-Vermont- October 14 2024.

Seattle Symphony March 7 2025.

University Of Washington 2025/2026 season.

EARTHPRAYERS an oratorio–Orpheum Theatre -Vancouver -1996

“Ruddell’s music is awesome…beautiful..exquisite, Ruddell writes gloriously for the voice…orchestrations as lush as Bruckner…the Death movement had the somber radiance of a Bach motet.”– The Vancouver Sun

“Ruddell’s music is uplifting…exhilarating… hypnotic… propulsive… sublime. moments of pure divinity…full of colour and variety…rhythmic surges that Frank Zappa or Igor Stravinsky would have been happy to claim…a breakout hit.”– The Georgia Straight

The Spirit Of Haida Gwaii-an oratorio– Bill Reid texts– Montreal, Waterloo, Vancouver-Six performnaces, multiple radio and television broadcasts

“..powerful and complex….a perfect match for the opening concert of the 2008 Cultural Olympiad, at Christ Church Cathedral on Friday (February 1)—the first of many arts-related events scheduled between now and the 2010 Olympic Games. Much like the Olympics themselves, Reid and Ruddell’s oratorio is rooted in ancient myth—and its creators’ cross-cultural partnership exemplifies the kind of brotherhood that the games, at least theoretically, are intended to foster. Alex Varty

Beyond Eden-Rock Musical–Vancouver, Calgary, Washington DC

‘World Class entertainment”-Calgary Sun. ‘Breathtaking spectacle’ The Georgia Straight

The Plague Diaries is a new music/theatre (lyric drama) creation funded by the Music Division of The Canada Council. The work is inspired by Shakespeare’s isolation periods in London during the plague outbreaks and the political and social upheavals of the late 1500,s in London, England: “The plague was caused by sin and sin is caused by plays.”

A grand adventure!

Thanks for the visit. Much appreciated.

Bruce

[email protected]

Image and photo of The Raven screen by Gwaai Edenshaw. It is the front screen for my music theatre piece Beyond Eden. Red carpet photo by Melissa Ponder, Seattle.