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8 years ago

Volume 3 Issue 8 - May 1998

  • Text
  • Toronto
  • Theatre
  • Choir
  • Arts
  • Choral
  • Symphony
  • Classical
  • Singers
  • Musical
  • Yonge

John McGuigan is

John McGuigan is currently -the administrative secretary . of the Canadian Band Association (Ontario Chapter). His main function . is the editing of the quarterly magazine "Fanfare" and to maintain records and offices for ·the associatiof}. He also owns and operates "COMPRINT" a publishing house for new Canadian music. REAL FEAR Let me tell you about terror in the bandstand today. All of you who play in bands will be familiar with this experience if you have ever played in a band . There comes that moment in performance when you "cack" a loud note in the middle of a brass fanfare and you know everyone has heard you. Your only defense is to look innocent or look menacingly at the person sitting beside you. For the non~player among readers it can be described as something akin to breaking wind noisily at a mixed party. Sometimes a clarinet player's finger will trip over itself on a fast scale run and you know every musician in the crowd has heard it. Here, your defense is to blame the composer for. .writing in an experimental scale in such an obviously wrong . occ~sion. · \ Real terror, however, lives in the percussion section where it is so easy to . play a loud cymbal crash into a three beat rest or let your gong roll rise furiously past the conductor's inconsiderately sudden cut off at the end of a piece. This time you have no defense, only a red face. The worst of all for the cymbalton is, however, the sudden discovery at the moment of truth that you have not as much room in performance as you did in the rehearsal hall. You are faced suddenly with the fact that you are short an extra copy of music and you 'must read over the head of your buddy, the bass drum player. In rehearsal this was not a problem. Now, h0wever, in concert with three hundred critical witnesses, you are facing the ultimate dilemma. Do you reach in between the bass drum player and the set player to get in your cymbal crashes and indadvertently 'cut off the drummers left ear or should you gracefully pretend that your part is tacet? This is the real frightening part of playing in the percussion· section: Will there be enough room for . us at a concert? We must continually make musical choices in a spatially limited kingdom. My kingdom would be exchanged for a large stage any day or evening! THE CAMP EXPERIENCE This is the tjme of year when young musicans and their parents are. considering going to a music camp for a portion of their summer holiday time. Having been at the National Music Camp as an instructor for nineteen summers I can heartily recommend this kind of an experience for all young musicians. There· is no better way to spend your holiday time then at such a place. I can remember very few cases of homesickness during this time, a fact in itself that is indicative of the benefits. To live amongst the like-minded youngsters who are with you, and to get to know the many real musicians who live with you in such a community is a very special experience for a' young musician. To see the kind of disciplined practise that musicians endure- to hear them perform after meals - to perform yourself with a group of your peers " all of these are special benefits of the cal)lp . experience. To practise each day in ensembles and _ bands 'increases your playing technique faster than anything you can accomplish at school or privately. A week or ten days at music camp can change your life for the better or . at least give you such a positive experience that you will remember it lovingly the rest of your life. Do it ! Go to music camp if you have the opportunity. It will enrich you more than you can imagine. There are several camp expeiences available this summer. I will make an effort to list .these in the· next is-sue. If there are camps that would like to be listed please contact me at 905 826 5542. This month's band concerts May 03 2:00 Miss. Pops Band "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing" with Peter Appleyard. May 03 3:00 Markham Concert Band "20th Anniversary Gala with the Canadian Singers. May 04 East York Concert Band "A Musical Evening" with The North Metro Sweet Adelines Chorus. · May 07 7:30Royal Conservatory of Music Percussion Ensemble · May 09 7:30 GTATWE and the choir of Trinity Presbyterian Church. Music for choir and band. May 09 7:30 Music at Metropolitan "Strike Up the Band" vocals by Rikki Rumball May 10 3:00 Toronto Youth Flute Orchestra. "Around the World in 80 Minutes,'' ' May 20 8:00 North York Concert Orchestra and North York Concert Band "Spring Concert" May 21 1 8:00 Toronto Wind Orchestra with James Parker piano , May 23 7:30 Intrada Brass "Last Night at the Proms" with guest artists on trumpet, euphonium and vocal. Gheck the listings for time place and details TORONTO'S ONLY COMPREHENSIVE MONTHLY CLASSICAL & CONTEMPORARY CONCERT LISTING SOURCE

UDIOFILE BY ROBERT HANSON received 1st place standing for b d d h 1 seven consecutive years. Symphonic . an recor ing: approac · es ga ore Under the direction ofLes As the end of this season the piece, allowing the musical microphone method. The Dobbin and Ken Hazlett, the approaches, many symphonic director to pick the best from a recording sessions have been band has toured Montreal, bands may be considering a the variety of takes. taking' place at Martingrove Ottawa, Boston, Philadelphia, benefits of a recording project TIPS Collegiate Institute's ·Cleveland, Chicago, etc. With Those that do will find there If the latter method suits you, . auditorium, a large hall with a the release of their new CD the are as many opinions on how these tips may help the success pleasant reverberation. first week of June, they look to record a symphonic band .as of your next recording session. Originally formed in 1982 forward to reaching an even there are opinions on what a eThe first thing to remember to give advanced students an larger audience. symphonic band recording is there is no audience, so the enriched music program, The Next issue: choral groups. should sound like. band can set up in a configur- Etobicoke Youth Band is now Robert Hanson, owner and Th · h d f d f h 100 operator of The Audio Group, ~two mam me~ o s or ation suited to recording. ma e up o II?ore. t an specialises in classical 1 recordmg a symphoruc band •Setting a band up on the students rangmg m age from acoustic location recording and are: 1) multiple microphones stage for recording often causes 12 to 19. They perform two digital editing services. on the individual instrument the back rows to sound distant, main concerts each year and Comments or questions: email s~ctio~s •. creating a final mix, with their sound going off into part~cipate in many Music to audiogrp@interlog.com, or With 'dJgJtal reverb etc. from a the stage's wings. If there is Festivals, where they have. by fax to (905) 420-8421. mixing C?nsole; .2) a matched room to set the band up in .----~-· ----------:c« s~ereo pa1r of nucrophones to front of the stage (the pit), the p1c~ up the .actual. ble.n~ of the sound will be projected into the sectwns while mamtammg the room, often providing a more natural stereo spread of the balanced sound. band and the hall's acoustics. •Risers are also great for B.oth methods have adva~tages, averaging the distance from d!sadvantages, and startlingly each section to the microphone. different results. -..The risers also help to provide The main advantage of a more balanced and defined multiple microphones recorded stereo image. to a multi-track tape recorder, •If you have to set up on the is the ability to make changes stage, make sure the back wall later· to dynamics and blends. is not covered by a curtain. However it is typical in this And, if they are available, use situation to still try to get "one sound reflectors at the sides of complete take as t~~ final take, the stage to direct the sound due to tape and moung costs. out into the room and to help "Final takes" like this often musicians to hear each other. include mistakes which could •Finally, make sure all fans, have been avoided. heaters aild noisy lights are Using a matched stereo pair turned off. If necessary of microphones (my personal inexpensive halogen work preference) does not allow for lights, from a local hardware changes in dynamics. and mix store, can be used for between sections at a later additional quiet light. stage. However, since the ETOBICOKE YOUTH :'f!~al mix" has been completed Recording their current CD, Jmllally (on a 2 track master) a The Etobicoke Youth Band has final master take can be created been using the matched stereo from all the multiple takes of "STARD . DANCING TO THE BtST OF BIG BAND! ErdBtCOKE COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND BANDLEADERi JOH~ EDWARD UDDLE FRIDAY, JONE 5 SATURDAY, JuNE 8:00P.M. fOUNTAIN BALLROOM QuEEN ELIZABETH BLDG. . •* iCKETS 416·233·6639 Contact Michael Duschenes or Chris Sharpe: 519-648-3324 • 1-888-2,58-7830 or email: info@arts-interactive.com www.arts-inten,ctive.com THE PERFECT BIRTHDAY Party Puppet Show specially designed for your child 2 to 6 years old (416) 922-8249 ONLY COMPREHENSIVE MONTHLY CLASSICAL CONTEMPORARY CONCERT LISTING SOURCE

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