Music
Press
"Linda Shumas has a homemade album called Positive Force. Much more original than many of the mood makers....recommended as much for its warmth and comfort as for its shimmery post-impressionism...accessable, appealing, substantial...this and the Marion McPartland are the best solo piano recordings so far this year" - Fanfare Magazine
Linda Shumas made a mighty entrance to the Toronto scene in 1984, with a solo recital at the Trinity-St. Paul's Centre. In the decades that followed, she concertized and gigged just about anywhere she could find a piano, including every incarnation of the Music Gallery from 1087 Queen West onward. Recent duet, trio and chamber ensemble forays have borne fruit in her awesome musicianship, carrying over into her solo work.
Unlike her 1985 LP "Voices from the Cloisters" (later releaed on compact disc by Phoenix Records #1369.ID), Shumas concentrates here mainly on the work of other composers. Rameau, Couperin, Scarlatti and Haydn represent the 17th and 18th Centuries in this collection, and Shumas certainly gives a good account of the music. Rachmianinoff and Scriabin give us her perspective on the early 20th Century idiom, much closer to her own style, but never overwrought.
Shumas' producer Nick Peros contributed five(of his seven)Poemes, and Linda matches those with five of her own All the music is excellent with L'Ocean Reve the standout in creative shaping of beautiful phrases.
Of interest to audio purists, this Cd was recorded in a small room on a very large piano, and a non Steinway at that. Three subtly different perspectives come from three sound engineers, one of them being the legendary Paul Hodge. Tuners are not credited here. The Cover picture is by Jan Thorp. Recommended - Wholenote Magazine
Though the cut line reads Classical, this isn't a collection of miniatures from the classics;at least not yet. The compositions are, save an encore by Bach, all by Miss Shumas. They could become classics after a passage of time but for now, they're original, wonderfully fresh and well worth custom. The question begged after listening to the album is whether Linda Shumas is a tasteful composer who plays beautifully or a fine pianist with a gift for delicate composition. What a delicious quandary. There are 17 tracks, all delicate, all evocative of titles such as The Moors, Dance of the Anemones and the cover to mention a few. Listening to them, one is mindful of Chopin and Debussy being performed by Alec Templeton. A kudo too for the singing of Patricia Swan on Lullabye for Jessye Norman. This is an album that deserves to do well. - RPM Magazine
The works of Linda Shumas are always breath-taking and beautiful. i would recommend her music to anyone. Mozart and Bach are household names and i believe one day Shumas will be too. Anyone with ears, listen, and find yourself in awe of the unique and absolutely amazing sounds of Linda Shumas. - Amazon.com
Discography
Positive Force, Peace for the Middle East, Voices from the Cloisters and Paradise Reborn
Photos
Bio
Linda Shumas is a Pianist/Composer and Harpsichordist. She is a native of West Vancouver who now resides in Toronto. She began her training at 7 years old and went on to Vancouver Community College for Composition and then on to the University of Victoria to study with Bruce Vogt, presently the head of University of Victoria's Piano Department. She took further piano coaching from renowned pianists Kevin Fitzgerald and Bernadine Blaha. She began composing at age 8 and went on to win the Jean Coulthard Award for Original Composition at the Kiwanis Festival.
Linda Shumas likes to refer to most of her compositions as structured improvisations', and indeed her works have a strong air of spontaneity and life, each with a very unique and individual character. Her original works are very much in a tonal idiom with wonderful chromatic turns, being also very melodic and deeply expressive. She is a highly stimulating musician with a natural technique who can bring both power and sensitivity to all that she plays.
Linda has been harpsichordist for The Quantz Trio, comprised of baroque flute, baroque recorder and harpsichord. She is part of a duo with Violist/Composer Joe nadurata and currently working towards a recording with programs including such composers as Bach, Schubert, Schumann, Shostakovich, Hindemith, Coultard as well as other modern compositions, including their own original works. Linda has also worked with the brilliant Israeli Violinist Ezra Azmon and released a recording with him entitled Peace for the Middle East, which is a compilation of works composed by both Linda and Ezra.
In 2006, she was invited to have her Song Cycle performed at the Crane Music School in New York where she gave two lectures on her music. Linda is currently working on a musical with her sister Naif Painter Carol Shumas.
Linda and her music have been featured on a number of national television shows, including CBC Tv's Adrienne Clarkson Presents and Bravos Artist of the Day. Linda's music has also accompanied Film, Dance and Television. The film maker Paul Lee created his film Thick Lips, Thin Lips upon hearing her composition Ruins and this film later went on to win a number of awards and was also a featured film in The Berlin Film Festival. Linda's music has been described
"it conjures up images of unparalleled passion, longing and still so many more dimensions of the human spirit, there is an expressiveness to her work that speaks intuitively to the heart and soul"
Linda has released four recordings to date - her debut recording being a solo piano recording entitled Positive Force, which was an album of original music, about which Fanfare Magazine said...."recommended as much for its shimmery post impressionism...this and the Marion McPartland are the best new solo piano albums so far this year....accessible, appealing, substantial." Her third recording was a predominantly solo piano recording of original music entitled Voices from the Cloisters, which was released across Canada on the Camalin Label. Her current CD release Paradise Reborn was released on Phoenix Classical Records Label and displays Shumas' vast understanding of the piano's sound capabilities displayed in pieces from all musical eras, including works by Haydn, Couperin, Rameau, Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin as well as the World Premier recording of five pieces for solo piano by Canadian composer Nick Peros entitled Poemes, and the World premier recording of five of her own original works for solo piano.
In May of 2009 Linda gave a concert at the Glenn Gould Studio celebrating her 25 year career.
Linda Shumas continues to compose, interpret, perform, record and is now exploring electronic music as well as commissions for other pianists.
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