On Ann Southam
A talk and performance in the Fine Arts Research Lecture Series (FARLS) in Music
Date: Monday, October 6, 2025
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Quance Theatre, Education Building Room 1003, 28 Campus Dr., Saskatoon
Free and open to the public
About this event
Ann Southam (1937–2010) is celebrated as one of Canada’s foremost minimalist composers. Her compositional voice is often likened to that of Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Terry Riley, composers known for pioneering techniques such as phasing, additive processes, and modular minimalism. In contrast, Southam’s approach reflects a distinctly feminist perspective, drawing inspiration from the repetitive “handwork” traditionally associated with women’s work, such as weaving and knitting. In Glass Houses, Southam “spins” short melodic fragments, what she calls “tunes”, one at a time, until the spinning wheel presents all tunes at the end of a composition. Her use of asymmetrical ostinatos in the left hand contributes to a shimmering, layered texture reminiscent of the moiré patterns found in art, mathematics, and physics.
This lecture explores the rich, often anarchic history behind the emergence of minimalism, examining its rejection of the heroic and masculine posturing associated with the Romantic era. Through the lens of time stasis and repetition, we consider the genre’s meditative, tantric qualities and its alignment with feminist artistic practices. The presentation will conclude with a performance of Glass Houses No. 11 by Ann Southam.
About the Artist
Pianist, Dr. Madeline Hildebrand is a versatile pianist, soloist, and collaborator across Canada and the US. She has appeared in concert with Philip Glass (Winnipeg New Music Festival), the Kronos Quartet (Mass MoCA), with Yarn/Wire (DiMenna Center, New York), and as a soloist for the Music Toronto series.