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Re: few brass bands in Canada

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: few brass bands in Canada
From: Eric Woodsworth <ejw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 95 11:29:44 UCT

Harumph!  Now I shall have to make *my* maiden voyage into this group.  In 

response to the following {
	---------------Original Message---------------

	Hi Jim!
	I'd love to hear more about your group.  There aren't a lot of brass bands
	in Canada, from what I hear (or rather, from what I _don't_ hear!),  

	outside
	of Salvation Army bands.  What kind of music do you play, what do you 

	intend
	to do (i.e. perform, contest), who is your conductor, do you have any S.A.
	players in the band, etc.?
	It's nice to hear about a new band starting up, what with all the bands
	shutting down.
	Feel free to either post directly to me or to the entire group.
	Looking forward to hearing more!

	Erik Pittock
	epittock@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

	----------End of Original Message----------
}

I'd just like to register with you the existence of the Saskatoon Brass Band, 
which is not a SA band, though I have great respect for the Canadian Staff Band 
and the International Staff Band, both of which I've heard perform in 
Saskatchewan within the last few years.

I agree with Erik Pittock that there appear to be very few brass bands in Canada, 
though once apon a time there were many.  In this province I'm aware of ours as 
well as a local SA band, and a small band which may still be running in the small
town of Cabri.  There are a few in the Maritimes I've heard of, as well as the
Hanneford St. Silver Band in Toronto, if that's a *real* brass band :-).

The Saskatoon Brass Band has been running since 1981.  We're on our fourth 
bandmaster at the moment: Joel Tomlenovich.  He is a 23-yr-old natural musician 
cum conductor cum illusionist who thrives on band lore and history; I'll have to
get him an email account.  We've had a very good past year with him though we 
could still use a few more players.  Most of our players are very busy people, 
and there is a fairly rapid turnover; however, the number of members with 
professional experience and training is increasing, as is our technical capacity.

Our prospects for the next year include competition in the Unifest competition 
(a music competition at the University of Saskatchewan drawing bands,
soloists, choirs, and chamber groups from across the prairies) with Year of the 
Dragon (Philip Sparke), and possibly a professional recording.  We play 2 or 3 

major public concerts a year as well as a dozen or so smaller community services. 
Fundraising (and overhead) is minimal so far, and restricted as much as possible
to playing events, e.g. a joint Christmas carol fundraiser with a local 
charitable association for the disabled.  Most members prefer playing over 
administration and money-grubbing.

Longer term aspirations include participation in the annual North American Brass 

Band Association competition.  Being a long distance from other bands, it is 
very difficult for most of us to allocate the time and money for what would
inevitably be a long, expensive trip.  I'd be happy to see bands participating
in this mailing list discuss other forms of music sharing, if only sending
concert tapes/videos around the group: for example a tape could make the rounds 
in North America, then Europe, among people who express interest.
-------------------------------------
Name: Eric Woodsworth - Environment Canada
Location: Prairie & Northern Wildlife
	  Research Centre, Saskatoon
E-mail: ejw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Date: 07/13/95
Time: 11:29:44

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