Article

Srul Irving Glick

Published Online June 11, 2008

Last Edited March 4, 2015

One of Canada's most prolific composers, Glick wrote in all media, including chamber music, oratorio, vocal and choral works, integrating the Jewish religious musical idiom into his compositions. His works are noted for their lyricism and emotional appeal.
Glick, Srul
Glick's popular music is direct and emotional in its appeal. The music is an excerpt from his Sing Unto the Lord a New Song, performed by the Elmer Iseler Singers (courtesy CBC).

Srul Irving Glick

Srul Irving Glick, composer, conductor, radio producer, teacher (b at Toronto Ont 8 Sept. 1934; d there 17 April 2002), Glick graduated from the University of Toronto (B Mus 1955; M Mus 1958) in theory and composition. He also studied with Darius Milhaud in Aspen, and in 1959-60 with Louis Saguer and Max Deutsch in Paris.

One of Canada's most prolific composers, Glick wrote in all media, including chamber music, oratorio, vocal and choral works, integrating the Jewish religious musical idiom into his compositions. His works are noted for their lyricism and emotional appeal. Glick received his first commission in 1964 and later received numerous commissions from artists and institutions, including Jon VICKERS, Maureen FORRESTER, CANADIAN BRASS, ORFORD STRING QUARTET, ST LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET, TORONTO MENDELSSOHN CHOIR, and the TORONTO SYMPHONY. Many of these commissions were funded through grants from organizations such as the CANADA COUNCIL, the Ontario and Toronto Arts Councils, Canadian Jewish Congress, Montreal Jewish Musical Foundation, and the CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION. Many of his works have been recorded, including a four-CD compilation released by RCI in 1989. The son of a cantor, Glick wrote much of his religious music for Beth Tikvah Synagogue in Toronto, where he has been choir director since 1969.

From 1962 to 1986 Glick was a producer of classical music programs at the CBC, where he was responsible for the premieres of many Canadian works. His involvement in the field of production, recordings and programming won him seven Grand Prix du Disque and a JUNO. In addition, Glick is the recipient of a number of awards for his contribution to Jewish music in Canada, including the J.I. Segal Award (1972), the Kavod Award of the Cantor's Assembly of America (1982), and the Solomon Schechter International Award (1985). In 1993 Glick received a Governor General's medal, and in 1994 he was appointed a Member of the ORDER OF CANADA.

A noted teacher, he has taught theory and composition at the Royal Conservatory of Music (1963-69) and York University (1985-86), and later devoted his time to composing, conducting, lecturing and teaching privately both in Canada and abroad.