Canary Burton facts for kids

Canary Lee Burton (born September 16, 1942, died May 19, 2024) was an American keyboardist, a person who plays instruments like the piano or organ. She was also a talented composer, meaning she wrote music, and a writer.

About Canary Lee Burton

Canary Lee Burton was born on September 16, 1942, in Richmond, California. In 1972, she moved to Moscow, Idaho. There, she attended the University of Idaho. She was one of the first women to join the music composition program. This program teaches people how to write music.

After a few years, she left the university. She wanted to form her own rock 'n' roll band. She played in different rock and jazz groups. Many people enjoyed her performances. However, she soon found that performing wasn't what she truly loved. So, she decided to focus more on writing music instead.

Her Journey in Music

Later, Canary moved to Washington D.C.. She worked at WPFW Pacifica radio for three years. After that, she moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. There, she started her own radio show called The Latest Score. It played contemporary music on WOMR radio in Provincetown.

While she was starting and playing in bands, Canary kept learning. She studied jazz with Kevin Toney in 1980. She also learned from other teachers like David Sussman and John Zielinski. She even briefly studied at the New England Conservatory in Boston. From 1996 to 2000, she shared her knowledge by working as a music teacher.

Her Achievements

Some of Canary's music was chosen for a special book. It was called Music of Living Composers and came out in 1997. In 2013, her piece called Southern River won an award. It was one of the winners in the Search for New Music competition. This competition is held by the International Alliance for Women in Music.

Canary Burton's music has been played all around the world. You can find her music and information about her work in libraries. One is the Wellfleet Public Library in Massachusetts. Another is in Italy. She also received an ASCAP Plus Award. This award helps ASCAP members whose music is very special. Some of her older music from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s can be heard online. You can also download the sheet music to play it yourself.

Some of Her Music

Canary Lee Burton wrote many different kinds of music. Here are some examples of her works:

Pieces for Piano and Other Instruments

• Sometime After One (1982), for piano
• Gaia Morning, Gaia Noon, Gaia Night (1987), for piano
• Costa Brava (1989), for piano
• Atlantic Sonata (1992), for piano
• The Promise (1993), for voice and piano
• Archeological Record (2008), for piano
• Daniella’s Hope (2008), for two pianos played by four hands
• Whispers (2011), for guitar
• String Theory (2011), for string orchestra
• Chopin Slept (2011), for piano trio (piano, violin, cello)
• In the Beginning, for organ
• A Green and Yellow Basket, for organ
• Solo Viola, for a single viola
• Clara Young, for voice and piano
• American Lullaby, for voice and piano
• Early in the Morning, for voice and piano
• The Tea Party: a set of pieces including The Tea Party; Dancing with my Teddy; Playing Dress Up; Ad Hoc
• Folksong for My Mother piano
• Victoria's Harp, for piano
• Southern River, for cello and viola
• No More Violins, for violin and piano
• The Twelfth of Cold, for piano, viola, violin, clarinet, bass, cello, in three parts: Fairy Boat; Snow Imp; Frost Heaves
• Viola Thinks 2, for viola solo
• Sparcity, for viola, bass, flute, tuba
• Sri Rama, for piano
• Nightfall in the City, for piano and voice
• Refugee, for guitar and voice
• Indian Voices, an electronic music piece

Short Pieces

Canary also wrote very short pieces, often lasting about one minute:

• La Compara, for piano, trumpet and clarinet
• Cuban Love, for piano
• Dust Bunnies, for piano
• Minute Meld, an electronic music piece
• Viola Thinks 1, for viola solo

Jazz Music

She also composed many jazz pieces:

• Familiarity (1977), a lead sheet for jazz, for one instrument
• Meteor Shower (1977), an instrumental jazz piece
• Companion (2006), for jazz piano
• Companion, an extended version for bass, piano and flute
• Lulu's Rag, for jazz band
• Sinuosity, for flute, oboe, piano
• Solar Reflection, for jazz band
• Ya Gotta Be Kiddin, for piano
• Sigred's Lullaby, for piano
• Raggity Three Step, for piano
• Turkey Too
• Tritone Subrosa
• Monkish

Recorded Music

Many of Canary Burton's music pieces have been recorded and released on CDs. Here are some of them:

• Piano Music from Cape Cod (Seabird Studio, 2003) where Canary Burton played the piano
• Women in Harmony (Tempus Floridum, 2010)
• Classical Bird: The Music of Canary Burton (2014)
• Jazz Bird (2014) featuring Canary Burton on piano and the Jarvis Trio
• Bird Notes (2014)
• Bird Song: Canary Burton and Friends
• Live at the Center (with Roxana Bajdechi, pianist)
• Lou Lou and Bird: Soundpaintings 2012 (with Canary Burton and Marylou Blakeslee)
• Lou Lou and Bird: Soundpaintings 2014 (with Canary Burton and Marylou Blakeslee)