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Composer

 

Leonard Enns was a Canadian composer and conductor who was born on October 29, 1943, in Kitchener, Ontario. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a church organist and his mother a pianist. Enns began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the organ and trumpet. He attended the University of Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition and a Master of Music degree in choral conducting. Enns began his career as a music teacher, teaching at various schools in Ontario. He also served as the conductor of the Kitchener-Waterloo Philharmonic Choir and the Elora Festival Singers. In 1980, he joined the faculty of Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo, where he taught music theory and composition for over 30 years. Enns was a prolific composer, with over 100 works to his name. His compositions were primarily choral and vocal, with a focus on sacred music. He was known for his use of complex harmonies and rhythms, as well as his incorporation of elements of folk music and other cultural traditions. One of Enns' most well-known works is his Requiem, which was commissioned by the Elora Festival Singers in 2005. The piece is a setting of the Latin Mass for the Dead, and features a choir, soloists, and orchestra. The Requiem has been performed by numerous choirs and orchestras across Canada and the United States, and has been praised for its emotional depth and musical complexity. Another notable work by Enns is his Magnificat, which was commissioned by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir in 1997. The piece is a setting of the biblical text known as the Song of Mary, and features a choir, soloists, and orchestra. The Magnificat has been performed by choirs and orchestras around the world, and has been praised for its intricate harmonies and powerful emotional impact. Enns' other works include numerous choral pieces, such as his Three Songs of Faith, which features settings of texts by Emily Dickinson, Christina Rossetti, and Gerard Manley Hopkins. He also composed several instrumental works, including his Sonata for Violin and Piano and his String Quartet No. 1. Enns was widely recognized for his contributions to Canadian music. He was a recipient of the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest honors, and was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. In addition, he was a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Music Centre. Enns passed away on September 27, 2017, at the age of 73. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and celebrated by choirs and orchestras around the world.

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