mâmowintowin
a gathering
musica intima
with special guests
Andrew Balfour
and
Sherryl Sewepagaham
A live recording concert
Are You a Member of mi: inner circle?
To receive your discount code and request your preferred reserved seating, please contact General Manager Rita Ueda at manager@musicaintima.org.
mâmowintowin means 'a gathering' in Cree.
musica intima brings together voices, languages, and musical traditions that reflect the many ways we connect through shared stories, inherited traditions, and new creations. Our upcoming concert, mâmowintowin, honours the relationships between the past and present, Indigenous and European musical heritage, and artists and communities today. In this spirit, we are deeply honoured to share the stage with Andrew Balfour and Sherryl Sewepagaham, gathering with our audience in mutual admiration, sharing, and respectful collaboration.
Photo credit: Risa Takahashi
World Premiere: Missa Tekakwitha
We are thrilled to present the co-commissioned West Coast world premiere of Andrew Balfour’s Missa Tekakwitha: The Seven Stones of Grandfather’s Prophecies, a profound seven-movement work sung in Mohawk, French, and Latin. This landmark piece marks the next chapter in our rewarding artistic collaboration with Andrew Balfour, an internationally acclaimed Cree composer. Our partnership began with Nagamo, our 2022 album that seamlessly wove Renaissance structures with Indigenous perspectives, earning a JUNO nomination and the Western Canadian Music Award.
Co-commissioned with Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal (SMAM) who performed the first premiere in April, this new masterwork evokes the life and tragic early death of Kateri Tekakwitha, the first North American Indigenous woman to be canonized as a saint. In Missa Tekakwitha, Andrew masterfully intertwines European polyphonic traditions with Indigenous languages, shaping a rich musical landscape imbued with First Nations spiritual figures, Marian symbolism, and natural wonders. By confronting moments of deep historical upheaval, the music reflects on memory, cross-cultural encounter, and transformation through music.
We are deeply honoured to bring this powerful new music to our Vancouver audiences, continuing musica intima's commitment to meaningful, cross-cultural choral performance.
Complementing this premiere, the program also includes Nia:wen Rawenni:io (Canon Deo Gratias) by Johannes Ockeghem (c. 1410–1497), translated into Mohawk by Ka’nasohon Kevin Deer. This inclusion perfectly bridges the concert's themes, connecting the sound world of the Renaissance with contemporary Indigenous expression.
Spotlighting Sherryl Sewepagaham
We are excited to celebrate the rich musical voice of Cree-Dene educator and composer Sherryl Sewepagaham. Weaving together stories of the earth, sky, waters, and the joys of motherhood, her work is a true cornerstone of Musica Printima, our publishing arm.
Our upcoming performances showcase the incredible breadth of Sherryl's repertoire, including favourites like mîtosak (Trees), yôtin (The Wind), The Sleepy Song, and okâwîmâw askîy (Mother Earth).
Alongside these celebrated works, we are proud to introduce two new selections to her signature series, KISÎWÎPÊHKAHAM—Music of Sherryl Sewepagaham: mîskanaw (The Road) and picikîsksîs (Chickadee Chant). We cannot wait for their official score launch on September 1.
These newest pieces expand on a brilliant body of work widely recognized by the choral community for its unique, transformative power. Her compositions allow us to discover hidden depths of feeling for the earth, beautifully paired with the simple joys of family and everyday life. Together, these selections offer an intimate portrait of Sherryl’s singular voice, cementing her place as a distinguished composer whose music we are privileged to support, perform, and publish.
Program
Andrew Balfour
Missa Tekakwitha: The Seven Stones of Grandfather’s Prophecies
trans. (Mohawk) Ka’nasohon Kevin Deer
énska (one)
tékeni (two)
áhsen (three)
kaié:ri (four)
wisk (five)
ià:ia’k (six)
tsá:ta (seven)
Nia:wen Rawenni:io (Canon Deo Gratias)
Johannes Ockeghem, arr. Andrew Balfour, trans. (Mohawk) Ka’nasohon Kevin Deer
Sherryl Sewepagaham
mîtosak (Trees)
yôtin (The Wind)
The Sleepy Song
okâwîmâw askîy (Mother Earth)
mîskanaw (The Road)
picikîsksîs (Chickadee) chant
We Are Recording A New Album with Videos!
This performance is being recorded live for future audio and video release. Some program items may be performed twice due to recording conditions. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
Camera Consent
There is a possibility that ticket holders may appear in the recording.
Mobile Device Request
To support the quality of the recording and the experience of all audience members, attendees are asked to silence phones and refrain from using mobile devices during the performance.
Bringing the Family?
This performance is a live recording event requiring extended periods of quiet, which can be challenging for small children. To ensure the best experience for everyone, we ask that young children not attend this performance. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to sharing our music with your family at a more relaxed event in the future!
Accessible Seating
Accessible seating is available. Please contact General Manager Rita Ueda at manager@musicaintima.org if you require assistance.
Are You a Member of mi: inner circle?
To receive your discount code and request your preferred reserved seating, please contact General Manager Rita Ueda at manager@musicaintima.org.
Photo credit: Risa Takahashi
Nagamo, 2022 | Sonny Assu
HELP US COMMISSION MORE INDIGENOUS VOICES!
Please donate to our dedicated commissioning fund today!
Established in Spring 2021, our First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Arts commissioning fund exists to help us broaden our circle of collaborations.
The fund is now open to donations to help support mâmowintowin the much anticipated follow-up to Nagamo featuring Andre Balfour and Sherryl Sewepagaham. The August 14-15 performances will be recorded live for a CD release in 2027.
Support this fund directly through our online donation form!
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
INDIVIDUAL DONORS AND SPONSORS
Canada Council for the Arts
British Columbia Arts Council
Government of British Columbia: Community Gaming Grants
City of Vancouver
Martha Lou Henley Charitable Trust
Lohn Foundation
McCarthy Tetrault Foundation
Evan and Janice Kreider Family Foundation via Vancouver Foundation
Charles and Lucile Flavelle Family Fund via Vancouver Foundation
Elsie & Audrey Jang Fund via Vancouver Foundation
Allan and Elizabeth Bell via Charitable Impact Foundation
Deux Mille Foundation
Anako Foundation
SOCAN Foundation
Hamber Foundation
Donald Brooks Private Giving Fund via Nicola Wealth Management
ColourStrings Conservatory of Music
_edited_edited.jpg)
Martha Lou Henley
Charitable Trust
Charles & Lucile Flavelle Family Fund
Elsie & Audrey Jang Fund
Evan & Janice Kreider Family Foundation
Anako Foundation
Donald Brooks
Private Giving Fund
Alan & Elizabeth Bell
Chris Aikenhead
Janet Allwork
Debra Anderson
Jennifer Balfour
Caitlin Beaupré
Allan & Elizabeth Bell
Jan Berney
Donald Brooks
Darlene Bruce
Diana Carter
Melissa Clarkson
Jan Constantinescu
Cheryl Cooper
Stephen Douglas
Andrea Dropko
Joanna Dundas
Charles and Lucile Flavelle
Allen Fowlis
Patricia French
Russ & Star Fuoco
John Gordon
Christer Hallberg
Don Harder
Derek & Olive M. Healy
Martha Lou Henley
Darby Honeyman
Elsie & Audrey Jang
Karin Johnson
Lynn Kagan
Margo Keenan
Beryl Kirk
J. Evan Kreider
Janet Lowcock
Brigid Lumholst-Smith
Steve Maddock
Karen Mang Kennedy
Melanie Marchand
Liz & Andrew Massil
Robert Mayhew
Luke McAndless-Davis
Caitlin MacRae
Hugh McCreadie
Coral McFadden
Dan McFaull
Elizabeth McLenehan
Laura Munn
Brenda L. Naylor
Sumiko Nishizawa
David Pay
Brian Laberge
Julie Peters
Manon Poitras
Carman J. Price
Kelly Rayter
Shane Riczu
E. Jane Robertson
Diedre Rogers
Lisa Slouffman
Troy Topnik
Sandra Vestvik
Olga Volkoff
Stefan von Dehn
Jon Washburn
Lynn Warburton
Lynn Woodruff