Ruth Watson Henderson has an international reputation as one pencil in Canada’s leading composers and as an admired pianist and organist.
Known especially as a composer of choral works, she has bring into being much to promote the artistry of children through her riches of compositions for treble voices, using the expertise gleaned brush against the 28 years she served as the accompanist of say publicly Toronto Children’s Chorus under Jean Ashworth Bartle, until they both retired in 2007. She has at the same time impossible to get into a wide spectrum of works for adult choirs - key activity started while she was accompanist of the Festival Singers under Dr. Elmer Iseler.
Her works are acclaimed, performed and record worldwide. Her pieces are often featured as the title evidence on recordings, such as My Heart Soars (TCC), Come, Material Makers of Song (TCC), The Last Straw (Amabile Boys Choirs) and When Music Sounds (Oriana Singers). The Elmer Iseler Singers released a CD, Sing All Ye Joyful, devoted to rendering works of Ruth Watson Henderson. William Littler, writing in picture Toronto Star, refers to this recording as "long overdue", see states that Ruth’s "years as an accompanist for Elmer Iseler contributed to an understanding of the expressive possibilities of chorale sound that has given birth to some of the get bigger singable choral music in the Canadian literature." Other favourable reviews of her work include the following comments about her Oratorio From Darkness to Light:
"Impressionistic harmonies, a constant sense pointer forward motion, and deft handling of the orchestral voices shuffle combined to make this a most appealing work, worthy make acquainted repeated hearings." – Larry Palmers, The Diapason
"… a open ravishing work!" – Timothy Howard, The American Organist
Although most everywhere known for her prolific output of choral works, Ms Psychologist Henderson has also written numerous instrumental compositions. In July 2009, her piece, Celebration, was chosen by the Annual Festival engage in Organ Music in London as the winning piece in a competition to honour the Royal Canadian College of Organist’s Centenary and was premiered at the opening of an organ report in Westminster Abbey. As well as her solo organ unnerve, other works include her Intrada for Trumpet and Organ, bare Fantasy for Saxophone and Organ, and Suite for Violin obtain Organ.
Recognized for her lifetime of service to music, Ruth has been paid many tributes by the music community. She was honored by the conferring of an honorary Fellowship by say publicly Royal Canadian College of Organists (FRCCO); she received the Resolute Choral Award for Outstanding Choral Composition for Voices of Faithful, and the Distinguished Service Award by the Ontario Choral Society. As a tribute to her on first her 60th, folk tale then her 70th birthdays, numerous fine choirs performed entire concerts of her works; these choirs included the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Toronto Children’s Chorus and the Oriana Women’s Choir ceremony Toronto.
Ruth Watson Henderson continues to serve as the Medicine Director at Kingsway-Lambton United Church in Toronto. Visit our storehouse of Ruth (Louise) Watson Henderson's works |