Pender Harbour Paradise was composed to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival. Wanting to capture the joy of the occasion, I found an unexpected source of inspiration in a one-dollar record of music from 12th-century Catalonia. One melody in particular, Veri Dulcis ("Sweet Spring"), lingered in my mind for days, its bright and buoyant character providing the foundation for the first movement. The second movement, Lost Souvenir, offers a quieter contrast, with a mood that might best be described as "optimistic melancholy." The final movement, Aimless Afternoon, turns to the jazz and Brazilian choro traditions that have long been central to my musical life. Featured solos pass between members of the ensemble as the music sheds the romantic tension of the earlier movements, bringing the suite to a relaxed and joyful conclusion.