FROM SEA TO SEA
From Sea to Sea was commissioned by the Canadian
broadcasting Corporation's International Service in 1947. The
world premiere took place under the composer's direction on November
26th, 1947, when it was broadcast throughout the world, as a Canadian
tribute to the UNESCO meeting in Mexico City. Within a year it
was performed by Sir Ernest MacMillan with the Toronto Symphony
Orchestra and by Sir Thomas Beecham on tour with the Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra, and has since been performed universally.
The title is taken from the inscription of Canada's Coat-of-Arms:
"A mari usque ad mare". In this work the composer has
attempted to describe the country in all its regionalism, taking
into account the ethnic, geographic and spiritual factors predominant
in each region.
