Programme Note Ovation was commissioned by the Eastern Music Camp through a grant from the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council to celebrate both the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of St. John's and the formal elevation of the Town of Mt. Pearl to City status. The title of the work refers to the Ovation or military parade which would be granted a victorious general by the government of ancient Rome. The general would made a triumphant entry into the city on horseback. I have attempted to suggest this pagan element in the piece. The work is in three sections. The first section contains two majestic themes (presented through fugal entries) played by the woodwinds and trumpets respectively. The Middle Section presents more lyrical ideas in the clarinets and saxophones. The Third Section builds in intensity to a featured percussion solo and fragments of the original two themes played beneath the first and last phrases of the Ode to Newfoundland. Ovation is dedicated to Paul Woodford and Gerard Walsh.

REVIEWS 1. Performance of February 24, 1989, St. John's, NF St. John's Evening Telegram, February 25, 1989: William Bartlett, adjudicator, Kiwanis Music Festival To PWC (Prince of Wales Collegiate) which performed Michael Parker's Ovation, the adjudicator said: "This is a real stinker of a piece, but it's good and I expect it will soon join the small library of distinguished compositions." He lauded the contrast and the tuning which he said was excellent, a tremendous job. "I'd like to hear it again." He gave the band 87. (The adjudication was the first for the composition and the third performance of the piece.) Mr. Parker, who has served as an adjudicator with the St. John's Festival and was in the audience for the performance, is currently a faculty member of Memorial University's Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Corner Brook.