Celebrating B.C. Culture

Music

This year's BC Scene (www.bcscene.ca/en/media/details.asp?newsID=46) offers a rich tableau of more than 50 performers, composers and songwriters from British Columbia who represent the province's diverse musical community-and all these artists are featured in the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) collection!

LAC has a mandate to preserve Canada's musical heritage. The collection of published materials by B.C. musicians held at LAC includes sound recordings on 78-rpm and 45-rpm records, eight-track tapes, cassettes, and CDs; videos; sheet music; scores; biographies; music histories; newspaper clippings; concert programs; and posters. The music ranges from traditional Aboriginal, Chinese and Doukhobor, choral and orchestral to big band, rock, punk rock, jazz, country, dance and contemporary. B.C.'s rich musical life is well represented in the collection of Library and Archives Canada.

In addition to those participating in BC Scene, other B.C. musicians found in the LAC collection include Chilliwack, Mart Kenney, Lisa Brokop, Hugh Fraser, Robert Silverman, Payola$, Collectors, D.O.A., Juliette, Sarah McLachlan, Kitsilano Boys Band, Dayglo Abortions, Purcell String Quartet, Be Good Tanyas, Michael Bublé, Chor Leoni Men's Choir, Loverboy, CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Phil Thomas and Terry Jacks.

Several B.C. musicians have chosen to deposit their personal papers with Library and Archives Canada, including rock musician Randy Bachman, composer Stephen Chatman, singers Pierrette Alarie and Léopold Simoneau, children's musician Raffi, composer Murray Adaskin, composer Barbara Pentland, musician-producer Ben Mink, rock band Trooper, producer Bruce Fairbairn and songwriter Jim Vallance. We welcome the many musicians from British Columbia to the Nation's Capital and invite them to see how their music is being preserved at Library and Archives Canada.

Preserving B.C.'s musical heritage is an ongoing effort. LAC works with B.C. universities, the provincial archives and other institutions to ensure that today's music will be available for study and for pleasure for future generations.

Have fun exploring B.C. musicians by searching our library and archives databases.