David MacIntyre's work as a composer has taken him and his music all over the world, but Yorkton has a special place in his heart.
David was born and attended school in Yorkton. He took part in the music festivals and while attending the Regional High School took the lead roles in the school musicals.
Upon graduation in 1970, he entered the University of Saskatchewan to study music composition with composer Murray Adaskin. After three years, David transferred to the University of Victoria where he completed his Bachelor of Music in 1975, but he continued his friendship with Mr. Adaskin for over 30 years.
During the next two years David did professional theatre in Saskatoon, Victoria and Edmonton. During this time he wrote a piece commissioned by Yorkton band director Blaine McClary for the Yorkton Regional High School jazz band called Dues Payin' Phase Days.
He returned to the University of Victoria for graduate work and received his Master of Music degree in 1979. That spring he was appointed by Simon Fraser University to found a new program in contemporary music composition in the School for the Contemporary Arts.
He has continued at Simon Fraser University, where he teaches music composition and artistic collaboration for students in music, dance, theatre, film and visual arts.
He says he has been fortunate enough to be head of the music program and director of the school's graduate program off and on since his appointment.
His compositions have been performed all over the world. He has composed over 75 pieces, many over one hour in length. His specialty is working in live, acoustic situations such as orchestra, opera, choral, or chamber music--usually with another art form such as dance and theatre.
Some of the highlights of his career are:
Songs of the New Vaudeville (1983) premiered in New York at the Bessie Schoenberg Theatre. He wrote the music and lyrics and performed as the singer in the 90-minute collaboration with New York dancer Susan Osberg. He was visited backstage by "Jacques Brel" stars Ellie Stone and Mort Schumann.
Piazza (1988), a commission from the First New York International Festival of the Arts in collaboration with Montreal choreographer Jean Pierre Perreault. This was a 75-minute piece for 24 dancers and 10 saxophone players performed in a botanical garden in the Bronx. He said working with 10 outstanding New York saxophone players, each with an impressive resume, was something not to be forgotten.
Sanctuary (1989), a 70-minute theatrical performance for string orchestra and boy soprano at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. In this production he worked with some of the finest saxophone players in Vancouver.
The Architect (1994), a two-hour opera commissioned by the Vancouver Opera (the first ever commissioned in its history) created on an original libretto in collaboration with playwright Tom Cone. It involved a cast of over 35 performers, some of whom have "tread the boards" at the best opera houses in the world.
Ave Maria (1994), a work for women's choir and dedicated to his mother Betty as a 65th birthday present. It is a very up-tempo and joyous piece in which the only words are ave maria. This piece has been performed by over 600 choirs throughout Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand., USA and Canada.
Squeeze (1998), is a 75-minute duet for musician and dancer, created and performed with his wife Catherine Lubinsky. David performs on a 36-button Italian concertina, which he taught himself to play, and for which the piece is written. He said it was a great highlight to share the stage with his wife, who is a mesmerizing performer.
He is currently working on a commission for Festival Vancouver, a 10-day festival of classical, jazz and world music which is held each year in August. He is working on a set of songs for the 2003 festival. The commission is for two songs for a soprano and two for a baritone, accompanied by piano.
He has chosen to set poetry by Robin Skelton, a recently deceased poet from Vancouver. The set of songs will be called Because of Love, named after the volume published under the same name by Skelton in 1977.
He adds now that he is turning 50, he feels he is really starting to fly and that his best years are yet to come.
"Being from Yorkton was definitely an asset for me because as kids, we were always encouraged to try everything, to experiment, to do our best and to persevere. I believe those are the greatest gifts a community can offer a child: opportunities, variety, support, encouragement and plenty of it. I'm certainly grateful," he concluded.