Keeping Us Connected -- Weekly Questions for Members

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  What piece of Band music really makes you want to get up and dance?
  • gordon  

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  Steve doesn't dance, but The Sound Of Music - particularly "The Lonely Goatherd" is toe-tap worthy.
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  What is your greatest accomplishment as a member of a band?
  • gordon  

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  @gordon Since you said "Of a band"... For me, it would be a "Youth Ambassador for Canada" , a title given to the members of the Burlington Teen Tour Band. I remember the first year that we did the Baltimore gym tour. Marching and hearing many people in the crowd saying "thank you" (I marched end, 2nd row - so I could hear them), referring to the Canadian Embassy rescue in Iran. As well, taking part in the 1987 Rose Bowl Parade. Practising in the early morning at the Burlington Transit bus depot (6 am start! And the only place we could play our instruments that early!!) before school, to perfect that one turn which occurs at the camera area. That is the year which I appreciated the benefits of Coffee! There are many other Tours, Parades and Events that I could go on about - local, Interprovincial and International, but for me, my greatest achievement is being a part of BTTB. I am grateful for all the support I received from Mr. Allan, Mr. Garnier, as well from all my "other" parents (aka Band Chaperones, BTTB Boosters, and fellow members' parents) and my friends from that time, which after 30 years are still around. I rediscovered the love of music (after being discouraged in the high school music program) and was instilled with the philosophy of discipline and dedication. I am glad to have been a part of "Canada's Musical Ambassadors".
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  Which band piece most represents you and why?
  • gordon  

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  Percy Grainger's Londonderry Air. I've always thought the trombone was a very beautiful sounding instrument, but not many composer/arrangers can write in a way that make it so. Grainger does this for this piece. It is a deceptively difficult piece that requires intent listening, but if done right, gives the trombone's a chance to be beautiful.
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  What makes a piece unfun to play?
  • gordon  

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  Anything that is beyond the capability of a group that is made up mostly of hobby musicians to play flawlessly. We will never all get it right at the same time. Another peeve is ridiculous key signatures. I realize I do not have any music education beyond experience but by the time I figure what the heck C flat is it is too late!
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  What makes a piece fun to play?
  • gordon  

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  Glisses, wah wahs, falls, flutters, mutes. Toys are fun!
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  What is your favourite piece to play as an encore?
  • gordon  

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  @gordon A James Bond Medley. Have always loved the theme songs from JB films
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  What is your favourite piece to play to open a concert?
  • gordon  

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  @lisa-yl ah... There is no mention for the choice to be BCB specific... so these are pieces which I played with RHLI Regimental band (although I did manage to get several pieces in our repertoire... and hopefully more).
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  Which Concert Band piece reminds you most of autumn?
  • gordon  

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  I wasn't in BCB when Don Allan was conductor, but Gary and several of my friends were. "Autumn Leaves" is a very nice piece, but it was such a predictable part of BCB's repertoire back when I was in the audience!
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  With the BCB looking at doing small group clinics this fall, what would you most like to learn?
  • gordon  

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  Not a musical answer, but would anybody be interested in a fall perennial plant swap or sale in the music centre parking lot sometime in September? I have a bunch of extra plants I need to take out of the beds. Jane
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  Who is your favourite musician that plays your BCB instrument?
  • gordon  

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  A little tribute here to Darryl Eaton. One of Canada's great trumpet players. He played with us for about 5 years through progressively worsening Alzheimers disease. I paired with him on a stand most of that time and got to know him fairly well. Even to the end his playing seemed effortless and he could do things like pop a high D out of nowhere if the score asked it. At first I simply followed his lead (he never made mistakes) but as the years went by it became necessary to show him where we were after tacet breaks for the section. Once we got going, he did seem able to read even at the end but some times lapsed into what I am sure was playing from memory and not what was in the score. Never once though, even when he was improvising did he play a note that did not fit.
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  Which piece of BCB music do you find tends to get stuck in your head?
  • gordon  

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  Hawaii Five-O and English Folk Song Suite, both without fail .
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  Other than the BCB, what's been your favourite group that you've ever played with?
  • gordon  

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  I have fond memories of the McMaster Concert Band. Matthew Airhart was the conductor in the mid 80s. It was audition only and I didn’t study music. I learned so very much musically from the challenging repertoire and it brought me to a higher level. The parties and the social side was amazing as there were regular social activities. (Hint hint!) People from that band went on to become well known musicians within the community. Laura Thomas, Glen Brown are a couple of examples and of course our very own Mary Sobota and Paul Romanow.
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  What has been your go-to piece of music during the pandemic?
  • gordon  

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  @shewis one of my favs too!
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  If you could play with any musical group (that you haven't already played with) which would it be?
  • gordon  

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  @gordon hmm... If I could have played with another group, it would have been "Velvet Knights" out of Anaheim, CA. But sadly, they have folded due to financial mismanagement. They were fun to watch, the shows entertaining. You can see for yourself... 1989 Velvet Knights - "Yo Mambo" - Final 1:00
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  Who has been the biggest influence on you as a musician?
  • gordon  

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  My Grandmother (piano) and my mother (voice) were my first two music teachers and my biggest influences. For trombone, Rob Sommerville (Lakeshore Music) showed me have fun while I play, Mike Polci (McMaster University) taught me how to listen and John Jasavala (Western) taught me how to practice.
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  Which Concert Band piece most reminds you of summer?
  • gordon  

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  "Porgy and Bess". How could it miss with the song "Summer Time"?
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  What is your favourite Canadian composition or song of all time?
  • gordon  

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  @gordon Okay...I might be showing my age with this one. But Gordon Lightfoot has two songs that I cannot decide between. "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" and "If You Can Read My Mind " GORDON LIGHTFOOT(VIDEO CLIP)-"THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD"(LYRICS) Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind
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  If you could only play music written by a single composer for the rest of your life, who would it be?
  • gordon  

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  That's not what I heard at a recent concert, @julian. Are you sure you're right about that?
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  What do you miss most about the BCB during the pandemic lockdown?
  • gordon  

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  @clarplayr said in What do you miss most about the BCB during the pandemic lockdown?: I miss the laughs. The clarinet section always has a great time joking around with each other. That we do. Sometimes we have too much fun. Apologies in advance @joanner.
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  If the BCB could go on tour, where should we go and why?
  • gordon  

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  @wjerome I was still relatively new as a BCB member, and I remember when the Executive discussed and planned out for the band to perform out of city in the summer. I was so looking forward to going on that trip for the experience of playing on a platform / barge in the lake; not knowing that there was such a set-up! The trip was to Gravenhurst. Unfortunately it was that town that ended up cancelling out - if memory serves me well too - as the organizers could not adequately fund / sponsor the bus trip for BCB.