Composition
Maria Case is an award-winning Canadian composer whose “fresh and engaging” compositions for choirs, vocalists and pianists have been praised for a lush “jazz-infused… creative harmonic language.” Her work attracts singers for her ability to create music that “plays to the natural strengths of the voice” and “evokes a deep emotional response in both performer and listener.” Her broad experience as a musician informs an expansive “command of genres she renews in delightful appearances.”
Inspired by language, Maria’s compositions draw on texts from a wide range of cultural traditions and eras, from contemporary Canadian poetry, to defiant prose expressing human resilience, to creatively juxtaposed fragments of ancient verse. She is passionate about the environment, community, and the beauty of the natural world; many of her works express these themes.
Maria’s work has been recognised by the Roberta Stephen Award for Composition, the Da Capo NewWorks 2020 Competition and the Amadeus Composition Competition. Her choral works and song cycles have been recorded and performed to acclaim on five continents.
“As a singer and teacher of singing, she has intimate knowledge of how best to optimize the human voice, and singing one of Maria’s compositions is a rare gift to a vocal artist. She has a vast knowledge of traditions and innovations… She is as comfortable stretching the boundaries of tonality as she is with spare settings for a more traditional set of ears… Maria and her compositions are a force for everything good you want to hear about.” -- Jocelyn Rasmussen, singer-songwriter, teacher, author, and inspirational speaker.
Choral
“One of the pleasures of singing a piece by Maria Case is that her music is choral-friendly. She plays to the natural strengths of the voice with compositions that are beautiful and have depth.” — Ann Rosenfeld, Commissioner.
Click titles to learn more and listen.
My Eyes for Beauty Pine (SATB, 2021) — This setting of Robert Bridges’ poem was composed for a program of Remembrance music.
Storm Birds (SSAATTBB, 2020) — Winner of DaCapo Chamber Choir’s NewWorks composition competition 2020. A call for environmental hope set to a powerful text by Toronto poet John Warden.
The Stranger (SATB, 2022) — “Blest are you, wayfaring stranger.” A message of radical welcome and inclusivity with words from the Carmina Gadelica .
In Flanders Fields (SATB) — A powerful setting of John McCrae’s famous poem.
Rejoice and Go (SSAATTBB) - An uplifting song of remembrance and farewell.
Everyone Sang (2020, SSAATB) - A setting of Siegfried Sassoon’s ode to the power of music against darkness.
First Sparrow of Spring (2021, SATB) - “The year beginning with younger hope than ever.” Springtime finds a rising voice in this piece with words from Thoreau.
Now Welcome Summer (2022, SSAA) — A cheery invocation of summer full of the chatter of birds, with text from Chaucer’s Parliament of Fowls.
Westron Wind (2019, SATB) - Two texts full of yearning and passion with a gusty setting.
He Who Made the Starry Sky (2018, SSA) - A lilting Christmas lullaby for three voices.
Art Song
“Maria’s music is magic! For over a decade I have had the privilege of premiering and performing her compositions. Whether set for soloist or choir, her songs sing themselves and to me are an exquisite blend of craft, beauty, depth, and imagination. She is a shining gem in the Contemporary Canadian music scene.” — Melanie Conly, Soprano.
Click to learn more, purchase scores, and listen to samples.
Songs of the Seasons - A song cycle for solo voice and piano set to texts by Bliss Carmen. Published by Plangere.
The Slow Hand of Time - A song cycle for solo voice and piano set to texts by John Warden. Published by Plangere.
Five Songs on Italian Texts - A song cycle of five Italian songs for solo high voice and piano.
Nightsongs - Four songs for solo mezzo soprano and piano on texts by Sappho. Published by Plangere.
Into Flight - Three songs set to text excerpted from powerful devotional texts by the 13th century German mystical writer Mechthild von Magdeburg.
Piano
"Maria... is as comfortable stretching the boundaries of tonality as she is with spare settings for a more traditional set of ears." - Jocelyn Rasmussen, singer-songwriter, teacher, author, and inspirational speaker.
Bagatelles - Sixteen pieces for solo piano, ranging in difficulty from beginner to early advanced. Published by Plangere.
Book of Elements
On the Trail