Anita Andrés Sleeman (December 12, 1930 San Jose, California - October 18, 2011 North Vancouver, British Columbia), Canadian composer, conductor, arranger, educator, and performer. Anita Andrés Sleeman grew up in San Francisco where her music teachers noted her exceptional abilities at an early age (she began to show a talent for composition at age eight). Sleeman attended Placer Junior College (renamed Sierra College in 1954) as a music student. At age 19 she composed a march that was played at the college's commencement in 1950, the first public performance of her work. She met her future husband, Evan Sleeman, at Placer and they married in 1951. They purchased a ranch in Elko County, Nevada and later immigrated to Canada where they lived on a ranch in the remote Anahim Lake area near Bella Coola. While there, Sleeman taught music at the elementary school and played piano and organ at many community gatherings. They relocated to the Vancouver area in 1967. Anita resumed music studies at the University of British Columbia, earning a BMus in 1971 and MMus (on a graduate fellowship) in 1974. During that time she taught at the electronic music lab, co-founded the Delta Youth Orchestra and was involved in the establishment of the music program at Capilano College (now Capilano University) in North Vancouver as a member of its music faculty. She returned to California to complete her doctorate at the University of Southern California (1982) while also attending the exclusive Dick Grove School of Jazz. For 17 years she acted as musical director and conductor of West Vancouver’s Ambleside Orchestra, retiring in 2010. Anita’s compositions have been premiered in London, England and Fiuggi, Italy as well as in Ottawa, Windsor and Vancouver; commissions include CBC Radio, Vancouver Community College, the Delta Youth Orchestra, the Galiano Trio, and others. At an early age Sleeman was introduced to the music of Olivier Messiaen, whose inspiration has been important in her development. Other influences are Edgar Varèse, Stravinsky, Charles Koechlin, Lígeti, and Bartók. Her eclectic style has also been coloured by her own ethnic background and her interest in jazz. She greatly admired the work of the late Frank Zappa, to whose memory she dedicated performances of her work.
Anita Sleeman - partial list of compositions registered with the Canadian Music Centre.
Antiphon (for Trumpet and Organ), 1947; Premiere: March 19, 1974, UBC Recital Hall, Vancouver, BC, Alan Ridgway, trumpet, Dietrich Bartel, organ.
Cambios: Op. 37 (for flute, clarinet and bassoon), 1990; Premiere: Jan. 1991, Firehouse Theatre, Vacounver, B.C., The Galiano Trio
Cantigas (for string quartet [2vln/vla/vc]), 2001; Premier: July 2003, Moncton, NB, performed by Quatuor Arthur Leblanc
Cantus (for concert band), 1981; Premiere: March 1981, Hancock Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA; USC Composers' Ensemble, Joyce Shintani, conductor
Capriccio (for trombone, violin and orchestra): op. 20, 2001; Premier: January 2001, Chrysler Theatre, Windsor, Ontairo; performers: Dale Sorensen, trombone; Lillian Scheirich, violin; Windsor Symphony Orchestra; Susan Haig, conductor
Carol of the Bells: A Fantasy on the Christmas Carol (for concert band), 1989; Premier: Dec. 12, 1989, South Delta High School Auditorium, Tsawwassen, B.C.; Delta Band, Rob Colquhoun, conductor
Celebration Overture (for concert band), 1994; Premiere: Nov. 1994, Mt. Seymour United Church, North Vancouver, BC; West Vancouver Concert Band, Arthur Smith, conductor
Concertino for Trombone and Band, 1977
Concerto for Twelve Players (for flute [piccolo, alto flute], English horn, clarinet (bass clarinet), trombone, 3 percussion, Rhodes piano, harp, guitar, violin, double bass; Premiere: Dec. 1, 1980, Hancock Auditorium, USC, Los Angeles, California
Cryptic Variations (for symphonic wind ensemble), 2000; Commissioned by Vancouver Community College in commemoration of its 25th anniversary; Premiere: Mar 18, 2000, Caulfeild School Auditorium, West Vancouver, BC; Vancouver Community College Wind Ensemble, Jerry Llyod Domer, conductor
Duo for fluet and piano in 3 untitled movements, 1979
Fanfares, canons and fuges (for 2 trumpets, horn and trombone), 1979; Premiere: Oct. 1979, Schoenberg Institute, Los Angeles, California
The Legend of the Lions, Op. 40, (for flute, clarinet, bassoon and dancer with narration by the performers), 1992, words in English from a story by Pauline Johnson; Premiere: Feb. 4, 1993, Douglas Collge, New Westminster, BC; Galiano Trio. Indigenous themes
Little Suite (for flute, clarinet and bassoon), 1998; commissioned by the Galiano Trio
Palm Court Music, Op. 38 (for alto saxophone, violin, violoncello, percussion and piano, 1991; Premiere: June 17, 1991, Vancouver Arts Council Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia; David Branter, alto sax, Toni Stanick, violin, Heather Hay, cello, Robert Caldwell, percussion, Terence Dawson, piano
Passacaglia Concertante, Op. 36, 1990; Premiere: Jume 13, 1990, Newport Performing Arts Center, Newport, Oregon, Ernest Bloch Festival Orchestra, Anthony Armoré, conductor
Picasso Gallery II (for clarinet, violin, cello and piano), 1996
Prelude for Piano, Op. 26, 1980; Premiere: Dec. 1, 1980, Hancock Auditorium, USC, Los Angeles; Marcie O'Donnell, piano
Recollections, Op. 32 (for flute and string quartet), 1985; Premiere: Oct. 6, 1985, Presentation House Gallery, N. Vancouver, B.C.; K. Cernauskas, flute, Pro Nova String Quartet
Rose Adagio (for mezzo-soprano and piano), 1987; words in English by Norman Frizzle
Tafelmusik (for flute, clarinet and bassoon), 1991; Premiere: Oct. 9, 1991, Christchurch Cathedral, Vancouver; Michael Cheramy, Lori Freedman, David Boddington Trio (for piano trio [violin, violoncello, piano]), 1993; Premiere: June 14, 1993, Arts Council Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia; performers: Artemis Trio: Sheila MacDonald, violin; Heather Hay, violoncello; Valerie Rutter, piano
Two pieces for clarinet and piano, 1989; Premiere: June 1989, Vancouver Arts Council Gallery; Johanna Hauser, clarinet, Alice Enns, piano
Variations, Op. 33 (for flute [piccolo], oboe [English horn], clarinet [bass clarinet], horn, 3 violins, 2 violas, 2 violoncellos, double bass), 1986; Performed at Scotia Dance Centre (sponsored by CMC) under direction of Giorgio Magnanensi (date unknown)
Wind Games (for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, piano and percussion, 1994; written at the invitation of the Vancouver New Music Society in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the Canadian Music Centre; Premiere: Nov. 27, 1994, Vancouver Playhouse; Vancouver New Music Society Ensemble
List of additional performances:
February 1997: The Galiano Trio (flute, clarinet, bassoon) presented a concert of Sleeman's works, as part of the Little Chamber Series That Could season. This performance featured her Legend of the Lions and was enhanced by dance and projected scene design. September 1997: Sleeman was selected to represent Canada at the Donna in Musica festival in Fiuggi, Italy. September 1999, Picasso Gallery II was chosen for performance at the International Association of Women in Music Festival in London, England. January 2002, Cantigas (commissioned by ACWC) was premiered in Ottawa by the Quatuor Arthur- Leblanc at the Then, Now and Beyond series sponsored jointly by Association of Canadian Women Composers and the Ottawa Chamber Music Society. The piece was The performance was repeated August 6, 2002 at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, again performed by the Quatuor Arthur-Leblanc, in the presence of Her Excellency the Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson. July 2006 a new piece commissioned for the CBC, Rhapsody on Themes by Dohnanyi, was premiered in Ottawa, Ontario at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, and performed again in 2007.