About Berandol
Berandol Music Limited is a Canadian publishing company. It was formed in 1969 by violinist and accountant Andrew Twa, with the acquisition of the music publishing division of BMI Canada. BMIC had been established in 1940 by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Canadian Association of broadcasters and Broadcast Music. The publishing division of BMI Canada had been the most active publisher in Canada throughout the 50s and 60s.
Mr. Twa had a “Canada first” policy but was committed to publishing music in every category. Twa stated “we cannot afford to, nor would we want, to become identified with any one single set of artistic beliefs. Canada is a large country combining a diverse population of many ethnic backgrounds and creeds and as a Canadian publisher we want to serve all as effectively as possible”.
Under his leadership, Berandol maintained a large catalogue of music, a rental library of orchestral materials and an educational collection. In addition, Twa patented MUSIcache (the world of music on microfiche), Berandol’s music on microfiche library. Twa had been looking into methods of economically producing printed music.
In 1973, Berandol was purchased by the Cruickshank and Plumley families (Ralph Cruickshank and Mary Plumley were siblings).
Ralph Cruickshank had joined BMIC in 1966 and by 1969 was head of the publishing division (the year Twa acquired the business). Cruickshank was a talented composer who had earned his ARCT at the age of 17 and went on the receive his Honours degree in music at U of T. Ralph Cruickshank was a passionate supporter of Canadian Music stating “Canadians themselves are just beginning to discover they have a vital culture blossoming within their own borders.”
Berandol expanded BMI Canada’s publishing program. It maintained a large catalogue of concert music and a rental library of orchestral material by Francis Morel, Istvan Anhalt, Jean Papineau-Couture. R., Harry Somers, Robert Turner, Gilles Tremblay, Healy Willan, and others.
Berandol also entered the recording business in 1969, publishing the then unknown Murray Schafer when other studios refused to record the album. Berandol also established specialized subsidiaries: ZSP Records with Paul ZaZa in 1973, Rat records in 1974, Berandol Records in 1975, a classical record label in 1977 as well as Clark and Cruickshank (who managed Joe Probst), Plumtree Music and Cee and Cee Music (CAPAC). Artists signed to Berandol records included: Harold Clayton, Ralph Cruickshank Orchestra, Rob Liddell, Wiz Bryant, Beastles, Enrico Farina, Toronto Consort, Toronto Baroque Trio, and Peter Walden. Cruickshank stated “it is something meaningful, and I believe it is worthwhile to record Canada’s artists”
Introducing Canadian Children’s Music
Berandol entered the marketing and promotions end of the record business with a children’s record “If Snowflakes Fell in Flavours” by Sandy Offenheim. The songbook was published first, and when Cruickshank realized nobody was making kids records in Canada he published the record album.
Sandy’s music initiated the rush into children’s pop music; followed by Sharon, Lois and Bram. Her works for children remain popular today as new generations of children discover Sandy. Other Berandol timeless CD’s include Canada’s Favorite folksongs for Kids and the Canadian National Anthem, 0 Canada.
Berandol Expands to Music Education
In the 1980’s, Berandol developed and published a Canadian school music program written by Elaine Mason and Marilyn Hardie called MUSIC BUILDERS K to VI, and a French language program by the same authors with Suzanne Pinel, called MUSIQUE SI’L VOUS PLAIT, I AND II. These programs were produced with financial assistance from the Canada Council and The Province of Ontario, and are used extensively by elementary schools in Kindergarten to grade six classes across Canada.
The education catalogue also includes recorder music by Mario Duschenes and Hugh Orr, books and multimedia performance materials by R. Murray Schafer., and by David Walden (Music Theory for the Bored and Dinfused0 and Lois Birkenshaw Marcelline Moody created an innovative recorder program entitled REACH FOR A STAR: LEVELS 1 and 2, which was used as the basis for the ORFF music program across Canada, and published and distributed by Berandol. It has received extensive use, both in schools, and by private teachers.
Ralph Cruickshank was also a composer. One of his compositions, Reach for a Star, was recorded by James Last and the album Mystique received a gold record from the Canadian Recording Industry Association in 1983. Earlier compositions were published on the albums Tears and The Dreamer.
The Toronto Pops Orchestra was formed in 1980 by Ralph Cruickshank to record ‘Ralph Cruickshank and the Toronto Pops Orchestra’ (BER 10055), which featured compositions by Cruickshank. From 1983 to 1991, under conductor Norman Reintamm, it gave four to six concerts annually at Massey Hall. Most concerts featured guest artists.
Berandol was nominated for 7 Juno Awards for Educational and Classical Records
Ralph Cruickshank died in 2002 and his sister Mary Plumley continued to run the company. Berandol was sold to the Canadian Music Centre in 2016. Mayfair music now distributes the catalogue.
