"British Columbia Suite" is a work composed by Nelson Riddle that was commissioned in August 1968, by the Government of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, as a musical portrait of the province. Its premier performance took place in San Francisco, California, March 19, 1969, with Riddle conducting. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performed the suite at Butchart Gardens a year later, on April 14, 1970.[1]
Album
The studio recording of "British Columbia Suite" was released on Vancouver-based Capilano Records in 1969, in a deluxe gatefold album with photographs and text depicting each of the twelve compositions comprising the suite.[2]
Then-Prime Minister W.A.C. Bennett is credited with the album's liner notes, which are congratulatory and laudatory of Riddle's efforts:[3]
It is singularly appropriate that a name as famous in the world of music as Nelson Riddle should be linked at last with a place in this world as well-known and well-loved as British Columbia, Canada.
Mr. Riddle is one of many millions of visitors who have been inspired by the mountains and river-valleys, the lakes and forests, the islands and coastal inlets, the colourful history and light-hearted recreations of Beautiful British Columbia — but he is a very special visitor, in that he has been able to convert that inspiration into beautiful music.
The delightful result is a tribute to our Province and a credit to the composer and his fine musicians, as I am sure will agree when you hear Nelson Riddle's British Columbia Suite.
In 1995 the recording was re-released in compact disc format on the Total Recording label, titled Symphony For The North[4]
