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Volume 16 Issue 3 - November 2010

  • Text
  • November
  • December
  • Toronto
  • Jazz
  • Musical
  • Symphony
  • Choir
  • Concerts
  • Orchestra
  • Choral

Bands on the HorizonJACK

Bands on the HorizonJACK MACQUARRIEOops. There was bit of a mistake in one of our photo captionslast month. One of our photos showed the trumpet section ofResa’s Pieces band, but the caption stated that this was thetrumpet section of the New Horizons Band. Actually, at the time ofpublication, the New Horizons Band did not yet have a trumpet sec-tentialmembers were trying to decide which instrument they wouldlike to embrace as their own. Now,one month after that organizationalmeeting, I am pleased to reportthat the New Horizons Band has 24members signed up, with more anticipatedin the wings.Having heard of the very favourableresponse from that organizationalmeeting, I decided that a visitto one of their rehearsals might be inorder. So, on a Wednesday morningat 9:30, I arrived at rehearsal numberthree. While the repertoire wasstill very rudimentary, there was a sense of a cohesive organizationblossoming. It was not the group of strangers that arrived one monthlyhelping each other. In one case, one member seemed a bit discour-Section members were sympathetic and helpful. Now, by the adventof the third rehearsal, they had formed ad hoc committees and therewas an impressive array of refreshment goodies at the break.They are still short of low brass players. Trombones, Frenchhorns and tubas would all be welcomed. Otherwise, there was goodbalance. After I took a few photographs, conductor Dan Kapp handedme a tuba and offered the opportunity to sit in and participate ina mixture of basic exercises and in playing a few simple melodies.By the end of the session The New Horizons Band had performedrecognizable renditions of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and aNinth Symphony. Now, after only three weeks, midtown Toronto hasthe makings of a new daytime rehearsal band.Also in last months issue, there was a photo of Resa’s PiecesStrings at their inaugural rehearsal. At that time they were doinglaplayer. Now, Resa Kochberg reports that the orchestra has a smallviola section, and the general progress of the orchestra is exceedingexpectations.In both of these startup groups the social rewards of playing insome form of musical ensemble have quickly come to the fore. However,for the beginner, there is the question of what instrumentwould be preferable. What are the physical demands and the demandson one’s dexterity posed by the various instruments? It seemsplay an instrument who have no idea of the skills required for themany different instruments. Perhaps that could be the subject of afuture column.Our Readers WriteI’m pleased to report that I have just received an interesting “Shorthistory of the Thorold Reed Concert Band” from their musical director,Brian Williams. Here’s what Brian sent to us.“The band was formed back in 1851, when Thorold was a village,and has been active to the present day. The band has seen many conductorsand instrumentalists over the years, and today boasts a membershipof 45 musicians from the Niagara area. It has been an integralpart of the Thorold community,and in the past it raised the moneyto build a bandstand and the presentdayCenotaph monument in MemorialPark. The bandshell in Battleof Beaverdams Park in the centerof Thorold was sponsored jointlyby the City of Thorold, the St. LawrenceSeaway and a Wintario grant.“The band has competed in theWaterloo Music Festival and CNEcompetitions, and attained top honours.A highlight occurred when theBand led the two 1956 New Orleans Mardi Gras Parades. This wasaland the keys to the city. In 2001 the band celebrated its 150th yearof continuous operation with a grand concert on Canada Day. Ninefree Wednesday evening “pops” concerts are still provided by theBand in Battle of Beaverdams Park. Concerts are also given at localretirement residences and nursing homes in Thorold and St. Catharinesthroughout the year, in addition to supporting special activitiesput on by the city of Thorold and the Royal Canadian Legion.“To maintain the enthusiasm of audience and musicians alike,the band’s repertoire is kept up to date with selections of new musicevery year, alongside many of the old favourites. All of the musiciansare volunteers and rehearse throughout the winter months. Today’sband is the best yet, and we look forward to starting our ‘pops’concert season at the Bandshell in Battle of Beaverdams Park. Thenine Wednesday evening concerts are sponsored by the City ofThorold. Some of our concerts feature massed bands with the Cityof Thorold Pipes and Drums. For more information about the bandplease call 905-227-0150 or email to gbwilliams@cogeco.ca.”Also in our mailbox this month was a notice about a competition.To commemorate the City of Pickering’s bicentennial celebrationsin 2011, the Pickering Community Concert Band, together with theCity of Pickering, have announced a music composition competition.celebration commemorative piece, and the winner will be awarded0. The second prize will become the Band’s 20th anniversarycelebration commemorative piece and the prize winner will beawarded 0. Both winning compositions will be performed by thePickering Community Concert Band during the planned 2011 celebrations.For more information, contact info@concertband.ca anduse the subject line “composition query.” Budding composers, here’syour opportunity for fame.On the brass band front, Toronto’s Hannaford Street Silver Bandhave announced the appointment of noted Canadian trombone virtuosoAlain Trudel as Principal Guest Conductor of the HSSB. Their“Childs’ Play,” will feature internationally renowned euphoniumsoloist David Childs.The trumpets of the New Horizons Band.Jack MacQuarrie plays several brass instruments, and hasperformed in many community ensembles. He can be contacted atbandstand@thewholenote.com.PHOTO JACK MACQUARRIE28 thewholenote.comNovember 1 - December 7, 2010

PHOTO LULA LOUNGEStrings of the WorldKAREN AGESI’ll begin where I left off last month, with a reminder aboutNagata Shachu, Toronto’s own Japanese taiko drumming ensemble,who present a new programme titled “Iroha” (colour), directed byAki Takahashi, with lighting by Arun Srinivasan, November 5 and6 at Fleck Dance Theatre. Each piece on the programme is inspiredby a colour. In addition to drumming and the use of other traditionalinstruments, the programme includes some choreography.November 6 is also the date you can catch the Ukulele Orchestraof Britain, performing at the University of Toronto’s ConvocationHall. This ensemble of around eight players is on tour this year(they’ll be coming to us via New York’s Carnegie Hall and a concertpartingto New Zealand). The name says it all – they play ukulelesof various sizes, and if you’d like a sampling of their music, checkthem out on YouTube! You can also visit their website,www.ukuleleorchestra.com. Check out their rendition of “Ride ofthe Valkyries”; and yes, they sing too!Small WorldMusic continues itsregular programmingthis month withconcerts at the LulaLounge and elsewhere.(And speakingof Lula, their artisticdirector for thepast decade, José Ortega,was recentlyawarded the RoyThomson Hall Awardof Recognition, one of the 2010 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards;more about Ortega next month.)But to continue with Small World Music: Septeto Nacional,Cuba’s “son” band formed over 80 years ago, brings the spirit ofHavana to the Lula Lounge on November 5; then, hailed as “the newvoice of Brazil”, singer Luisa Maita performs there on November 12.On November 13 there is a co-presentation of Chhandayan, SmallWorld Music and Creations India – devotees of Indian classicalmusic can experience a traditional all-night concert at St. Andrew’sChurch. Featured musicians include Swapan Chaudhuri, SamirChatterjee, Shashank, Ramesh Misra, Pandita Tripti Mukherjee,Suman Ghosh, Alam Khan, Gauri Guha, Dibyarka Chatterjee andSargunaraj, who hails from Tamil Nadu, brings a combination ofdance, drumming and humour to the Lula Lounge.For more info on all of these, visit www.smallworldmusic.com.Yiannis KapoulasAlso at the Lula Lounge, multi-instrumentalist Yiannis Kapoulasperforms selections from his self-titled debut CD, with a six-pieceensemble, November 14. His signature instrument is the “Ethnocontinued on page 56ABA Music and Arts 56Academy Concert Series 34Aldeburgh Connection 30,44Alexander Kats 54Amadeus Choir 32AMICI 36Amoroso 53Analekta 7Anthony St. Pierre 54Aradia 47Art of Time 17ATMA 5Bach Children’s Chorus 47Birthday Series 35Bloor Cinema 60Bryson Winchester 55Canadian Flute Association 18Canadian Mens Chorus 16Canadian Opera Company 15Cantemus 12Cathedral Bluffs SymphonyOrchestra 34Chamber Music Society ofMississauga 44Christ Church Deer Park JazzVespers 26Church of St Mary Magdalene 36Civic Light Opera 43Classical 96.3fm 69Cosmo Music 14Denise Williams 54East York Choir 45Eglinton St George’s United Church41Elmer Iseler Singers 37Ensemble TrypTych 41Espace Musique 90,3 FM 70ESPRIT 13Fingerstyle Guitar 46Gallery 345 31George Heinl 20Glionna Mansell 11Grace Church on-the-Hill 40,48Grace Church on-the-Hill 58Grand Philharmonic Choir 50grigorian.com 61Guido’s Orchestra 16Hallie Fishel 54Hannaford Street Silver Band 72Harknett Musical Services 28Hear Toronto 59Heliconian Hall 53I Furiosi 39James Brown 54Jazz Education and PerformanceCentre 40John Laing Singers 49Jubilate Singers 39Kindred Spirits Orchestra 32,46,53Living Arts Centre 16Liz Parker 54LIZPR 59Lockwood ARS 55Long&McQuade 26ADVERTISERS’ INDEXMetropolitan United Church 34Miles Nadal JCC 47Mississauga Symphony 40Music Gallery 23Music Toronto 9,14,31,36Nathaniel Dett Chorale 13New Music Concerts 13,35Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation 31Norm Pulker 55NYCO 18Oakham House Choir 39Off Centre Music Salon 41Opera in Concert 42Opera York 15Orchestra Toronto 45Oriana Women’s Choir 39Pasquale Bros. 58Pattie Kelly 54Pax Christi Chorale 25Penthelia Singers 41Peter Mahon 19Philharmonic Music LTD. 56Remenyi House of Music 19Royal Conservatory 23Salvation Army Band 42Shoko Inoue 49Show One 4Silverthorn Symphonic Winds 44Sinfonia Toronto 33Sing Rutter’s Gloria at CarnegieHall 55Sony Centre 11St Clements Anglican Church 35St. George’s-on-the-Hill 55St. Michael’s Choir School 10St. Olaves 40St. Philip’s Anglican Church JazzVespers 27Stardust Gifts 55Steve’s Music Store 27Stouffville United 55Studio 92 55Sue Crowe Connolly 54Tafelmusik 2Tallis Choir 44The Flute Studio 68The Sound Post 22Toronto Chamber Choir 43Toronto Classical Singers 45Toronto Consort 15Toronto Mass Choir 12Toronto Mendelssohn Choir 47Toronto Operetta Theatre 21Toronto Philharmonia Orchestra 31,48Toronto Symphony Orchestra 71Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir 46U of T Faculty of Music 20,38Ukrainian Art Song Project 7Urban Flute 49Verity Graphics 29Via Salzburg 15Village Voices 46Windermere String Quartet 37Yamaha Music School 54November 1 - December 7, 2010 thewholenote.com 29

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