Article

Peter Berring

Published Online February 7, 2006

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Berring (b Bjerring), Peter. Composer, b Winnipeg 6 Feb 1954; B MUS (British Columbia) 1977. He is of Danish-Icelandic heritage, descended from Vitus Bering (1680-1741), the naval explorer after whom the Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and Bering Island are named.

Berring, Peter

Berring (b Bjerring), Peter. Composer, b Winnipeg 6 Feb 1954; B MUS (British Columbia) 1977. He is of Danish-Icelandic heritage, descended from Vitus Bering (1680-1741), the naval explorer after whom the Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and Bering Island are named.

A resident of Vancouver, Berring excels in vocal composition, is an active jazz musician, and has also written film scores, pop songs and jingles. His works have been commissioned and performed by the Vancouver Cantata Singers (Jesus of Nazareth, Requiem), the National Youth Choir (Strings in Earth and Air), and The Tudor Singers of Montreal (Four Love Songs); in addition, the CBC commissioned his Alleluia for a performance by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Song of the Salish Chief, commissioned by the Vancouver Centennial Committee, has been performed by the Vancouver Cantata Singers in 1986 and the Saskatoon Chamber Singers in 1988.

Selected Compositions

Song of Solomon.1978. SATB, string orch, piano, percussion. Ms

Jesus of Nazareth. 1978. SATB, orch. Ms

Song of the Salish Chief 'A Cantata for Vancouver'. 1986. Ten, SATB, piano, fl, double-bass, percussion. Ms

Suite for Jazz Quintet. 1986, rev 1989. Pf, fl, double-bass, percussion. Ms

Four Love Songs. 1988. SATB, guitar. Ms

Sonata for Two Violins and Digital Delay. 1988, rev 1990. Ms

Requiem. 1990. Sop, SATB, orch. Ms

Strings in the Earth and Air (Joyce). 1990. SATB, piano. Ms