Don Macdonald (born 1966) composition credits include music for theatre, dance, published vocal arrangements and forays into everything from jazz and electronica to commissions for contemporary classical music. He has written soundtracks to over 50 film and television productions and has received numerous awards for his soundtracks including 3 Leo Awards and the Gerardmer Film Festival Award for “Best Score”.
Don has been active as a choral singer since a very young age and as a
Don lives in Nelson, BC Canada and teaches at the Selkirk College Contemporary Music and Technology Program.
I just finished writing string quartet arrangements of three of the most well-known pieces in the Tango repertoire: Trenzas, Danzarin, and Romance de Barrio. I transformed each piece substantially from the original by changing the harmony, time signature, and rhythm but they still have the essence of Tango. They're available in the store.
My choral work; "When the Earth Stands Still", has many many wonderful performances featured on youtube. Two of the best are done by The University of Johannesburg Choir and the Luther College Nordic Choir of Iowa, USA. So interesting to see how music can be interpreted so differently.
The male vocal ensemble "Cantus", one of two professional male ensembles in the US (the other being Chanticleer), recently performed Tabula Rasa. Here is a short section of the review - "Over half of the pieces are from the 21st century, some coming from the choral world, others from pop and rock. The evening opened […]
If you're in Kelowna between March 15 and April 27 have a look at this video/audio installation at the Alternator Centre. "Check Check" features video by Ian Johnson that explores contemporary obsessive-compulsive behavior. With music by Don Macdonald in 4 speaker surround sound and looping projections on four giant screens, it's a compelling visual and […]
I've been lucky to be asked to work on two sounds instillation pieces over the last year. The first, titled SUMMONING (No Words) is an interactive sound temple built of the female voice, a concept conceived by Nicola Harwood.Theatrical and immersive, the installation recalls the origins of artistic practice in ritual, temple, ceremony and community. As […]
In Greek mythology, the Sirens were dangerous creatures, who lured sailors with the seductive quality of their singing to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. The title "Sirena" is a word borrowed from the Latin word "Siren" but it's also a word used in Philippine culture to denote a vicious mermaid. This song uses the metaphor of […]