“Michael’s commitment as an accomplished brass musician and as a
virtuoso performer of the alphorn is of major stature. He is a pioneer
of contemporary repertoire for this beautiful and neglected instrument
which comes as close to any instrument to echoing the true voice of
nature. He is also a tireless educator and experimenter using the
alphorn to bridge the chasm between man and the rest of animate
creation. He performs for concert and out-of-door audience alike,
emphasizing Canada’s unique soundscapes and the living sounds of our
land.
His original theory of ‘natural pitch-resonance properties’ developed
after twenty years of field research will change the way the world
listens.”
Farley Mowat,
Canadian Author
World Leader Environmental Issues
“When Mike Cumberland
began speaking at a small conference not far from Algonquin Park a
month ago (March, 07), it was late in the day, the last one of the
weekend, and everyone was tired. Not for long. Five minutes into the
program, the room was infused with the same patient energy and
enthusiasm Mike brought to his insightful music program. His
descriptions of intuitive and simple lines of communications
demonstrated that the methodologies he had chosen almost never failed
to bring out the very best in the challenged individuals with whom he
was working. I was personally very moved by his efforts - perhaps the
most memorable and inspiring of the entire weekend event. I only hope
that his efforts are fully supported and allowed to continue. They set
a high and achievable standard that can only serve as a model for
other efforts in this area."
Bernie Krause, PhD
Glen Ellen, California
Founder, Wild Sanctuary; Past Member of The Weavers; One the First
players and distributors of the Moog Synthesizer in the 60’s;
Soundtrack composer for Rosemary’s Baby, Love Story, Dr. Doolittle,
and Apocalypse Now.
“Wonderful style in
the traditional method of Le Ranz des Vaches and Swiss Alphorn Folk
playing.”
Dr. Guy S. Métraux
Swiss Historian,
Author of Le Ranz Des Vaches
“North America’s
Number 1 Alphorn Player”
André Farrer
Past President, Swiss Club of Toronto
“Your interpretation
is fantastic and the recording is very well successful. My sincere
congratulations with you and also with your accompanist.” (with
regards to the DVD of “Le Cor Magique”.
Jozsef Molnar
Founder of the Alphorn Academy of Switzerland
“One of Port Hope’s
Treasures”
Peggy Foster
Northumberland News
“… virtuoso playing…
a triumph of musicianship, projecting a playful quality in the horn,
as well as able to project tenderness, romance and poignancy. A well
thought out program.”
Evelyn and Larry Hall
Port Hope Evening Guide
“Michael and his
alphorn were a great success and a great way to start the Open Ears
Festival.”
Peter Hatch,
Artistic Director, Open Ears Festival of Music and Sound
“Michael’s playing is
technically wonderful. More importantly he forces us to stop for a
moment of deeper reflection upon the simpler past and spirit of
music.”
Matthew Jaskiewicz
Past Conductor Warsaw Chamber Opera, Music Director Toronto
Sinfonietta
“Michael is a great
person to work with – a thrill – and great audience appeal.”
Cathy Redsell
Kinston Horn Quartet & Treasurer A.F. of M. Local 518
“He may very well be
the (John) Cage or Miles Davis of alphorn, but in another sense he
seems to have done for the alphorn what Paul Horn did in the Taj Mahal
for the flute.”
Bart Plantega
Radio Patapoe, Amsterdam
“A wonderful
experience for all of us… we learned a lot about the alphorn and the
traditional style of alphorn quartet playing… Michael is a very
patient, knowledgeable and enthusiastic teacher. He had a relaxed kind
manner with the students who responded quickly and easily, especially
when he played along with them.”
Nina Brickman,
Horn Faculty, Wilfred Laurier University;
Horn, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Canadian Chamber Emsemble
“The musical opening
of the documentary is stunning, grabbing the listener’s attention
immediately…The work begins with Tapio for alphorn and echoing
instruments, a haunting work that employs older Lydian and Mixolydian
modes, and has an opening reminiscent of Richard Strauss’s Also Sprach
Zarathustra. What is truly innovative is the use of the outdoor
acoustic to allow the instruments to interact with their own echoes,
as well as being echoes of the soloist. This interplay is used to
great effect.”
Charlene Biggs
Music Department
Cambrian College
(Review of R. Murray Schafer Canadian Composers Portraits Series)
"Port Hope schools
really 'Made it Happen' in 2007! The Accessibility Advisory Committee
is truly amazed, delighted and proud to be part of a school community
like yours. We think you are the best - surely in Ontario and maybe in
the entire country!
Mr. Cumberland's presentation of the soundscapes video created by
Cameron and Kyle was very moving and wonderfully appropriate for the
occasion. They are to be congratulated for their work..."
Barb Winfield
Hilda Ed
Accessibility Advisory Committee, Municipality of Port Hope
I have known Michael
Cumberland for almost twenty-five years in a variety of capacities. As
a tuba and alphorn player, he has performed in dozens of my works, and
I have written pieces especially for him. Together we have created the
role of Tapio, which he has performed in And Wolf Shall Inherit the
Moon (The Patria Epilogue) for almost eighteen years. He has also been
a board member of Patria Music/Theatre Productions for the past
fourteen years, contributing his many talents as an organizer and
fundraiser; and in the official capacities as Secretary and presently
as Vice-President.
I have also known Michael as a very talented and appreciated school
teacher who has introduced much creativity into his music classes.
And finally, as a human being, Michael is reliable, honest and hard
working. He has a wonderful sense of humour. I can’t imagine he has an
enemy anywhere.
His life is devoted to improving the world around him.
R. Murray Schafer
Indian River, Ontario, July 13, 2007
Canada’s pre-eminent composer
Educator, Environmentalist, Scholar, Visual Artist
Winner of the first Glenn Gould Prize and,
Molson Award for the Arts
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