two Wölfli sketches: horror vacui / musicum umbrarum by Scott Godin (CA)

two Wölfli sketches: horror vacui /  musicum umbrarum (2011-12) for viola solo by Scott Godin (CA

Pemi Paul (viola) is a versatile soloist and chamber musician, and a specialist in both new and early music, Pemi Paull is a true 21st century artist. He is the founder and artistic director of Warhol Dervish, an original and unorthodox chamber music collective based in Montreal. He has appeared as soloist with the Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec as well as the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, and was the recipient of the 2002 CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award for Chamber Music. Pemi has been a participant at IMS Prussia Cove in Cornwall, England, and Domaine Forget International Chamber Music Festival. Pemi’s activities have brought him to the forefront of Montreal’s contemporary music world, where he is a member of two important new music ensembles, Bradyworks and SMCQ. In addition, Pemi has premiered works for viola by composers including Scott Godin, Andre Ristic, Rose Bolton, Emily Hall, and Nicolas Gilbert, Michael Oesterle, and Tim Brady. He gave the Canadian premiere of “Prologue”, for viola and electronic resonator, by French composer Gerard Grisey. Francois Tousignant, of Montreal’s Le Devoir, wrote of the performance, “…Voila une maniere differente d’user de la ‘monodie’ d’autant plus convainquante que l’interprete, totalement engage, en fait resortir tout l’art inspire et in spirant”. Pemi routinely collaborates with musicians outside of the classical world, such as Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire, Chilly Gonzales, Patrick Watson, Lukas Ligeti, and has recorded with artists like Socalled, Barr Brothers, Hey Rosetta, to name a few. Pemi is also a member of the indie/rock/classical band, Plumes. With growing frequency and critical acclaim, Pemi is one of the few violists in the world to present full programs of unaccompanied repertoire for viola, covering more than three centuries, from the early baroque to new commissions. In the sphere of historical performance, Pemi is a member of Ensemble Caprice, with whom he has recorded seven discs for Analekta, winning one Juno in the process, as well as Daniel Taylor’s Theatre of Early Music. He also appears regularly with Tafelmusik in Toronto. Pemi plays on a viola built in 1789 by the Parisian luthier and Jacobin revolutionary, Leopold Renaudin. www.pemipaull.com.