Classical music has been Jason Noble’s passion since he wrote his first piano composition as a teenager growing up in Petty Harbour, N.L.
Now at 29, the master’s composition student at The University of Western Ontario’s Don Wright Faculty of Music is preparing his thesis composition entitled Trial of Socrates to be performed Wednesday, April 7 at 8 p.m. in the Paul Davenport Theatre.
Jason Noble
Choirs, soloists and ensembles in Newfoundland and London have performed Noble’s compositions, including the UWO Wind Ensemble and Amabile Choirs of London. However, this is his first time composing for such a large group of performers. Fifty musicians will play Trial of Socrates, from woodwinds to brass players, percussion and string players.
“The audience will just hear one fluid composition, but for the composer it is such a laborious task to perfect the sounds for each instrument,” Noble says.
Inspired by the dialogue in Plato’s “Apology,” Noble’s Trial of Socrates tells the story of Socrates tried before the men of Athens. The performance explores the conflict between philosophical values of truth, beauty and goodness versus money and power.
“Even though the premise of the work is based in ancient times, it deals with a conflict still visible in the world today,” the composer says.
But Noble isn’t limited to musical notes. Along with his composing, he is the published author of an illustrated storybook and CD called The Stupendous Adventure of Gregory Green.
Set to upbeat music, the book tells the story of young Gregory who must save the forest from becoming a dump at the domain of the troll monsters Sawtooth, Sludge and Smog.
“Gregory has a choice to run and save himself or save the forest,” he says.
Noble decided to keep the production roles for The Stupendous Adventure of Gregory Green in the family by asking his artist brother Matthew to illustrate the book, and his great-uncle, Gordon Pinsent, to narrate the story. Pinsent is a well-known actor with numerous honours, including the Order of Canada and a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.
“The book started with an idea to engage children in reading and music, with an underlying message about the environment,” says Noble, who was awarded a grant from the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council to produce the book in 2009.
“I remember loving a good story and bright illustrations when I was young, and it is heartening to see children still responding to that even with all the technological distractions they have today.”
Noble has more musical book ideas in the works, including a book of piano music to be released in 2011.
For now his focus is back on finishing his master’s degree with help from his thesis advisor, Omar Daniel, associate professor in the Department of Music Research and Composition.
“Jason has a strong voice when it comes to writing music,” says Daniel, who has been working with Noble this year. “That is the key to becoming a great composer, and I think he is well on his way.”
In the future, Noble hopes to continue composing and plans to pursue a doctorate degree in composition.
Although composing is complex and time-consuming, Noble says it never gets old.
“The process of having an initial idea, working hard to get it right and then getting it out into the world for people to hear still excites me,” he says. “I hope I can do this for the rest of my life.”
The writer is a graduate student studying journalism. The article is re-printed from The Online Reporter.