Volume 25 Issue 3 - November 2019

“Blowhards” by name
On October 11, I had the pleasure of attending a
very different type of concert from anything that
I had ever experienced before, by an instrumental
group I had never heard of before. Made up of 10
wind musicians, conducted by John Liddle, they
call themselves “Fanfarones.” The first portion of
the concert consisted of relatively familiar music
including: Wedding Day at Troldhaugen from
Grieg’s Holdberg Suite, Tango Op.165 by Albeniz,
Jamaica Farewell by Irving Burgie, and excerpts
from Rocky Mountain Suite by Canadian
composer Pete Coulman. To end the first portion
of the program, conductor John Liddle played
Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust on his trumpet.
The second portion of the program featured
the Fanfarones performing a new work, Canoe
Dancing, by local composer Stu Beaudoin.
Beaudoin’s original idea had been to produce a
ballet, and Canoe Dancing could still be described
as a dance-like programmatic musical journey.
As the work progressed, its musical impressions
of canoeing were reflected on two large viewing
screens on either side of the stage, capturing the
many different aspects of canoeing in the music.
The pictures taken by Beaudoin himself, and
fellow canoeing enthusiasts, portrayed both scenic
beauty and the sometimes terrifying experiences
of the canoeists in rough water: from views
of canoeists gently paddling along tranquil waters at sunset to others
struggling to stay afloat while trying to negotiate violent rapids with
surf thundering over rocks on all sides. At times, audience members
felt as though they were participating in a journey, with emotions
ranging from tranquillity to terror. In all, a fascinating and entertaining
performance, by a group worth knowing more about.
I contacted Helen Graham, one of the founding members of the
group. Here’s how she described their birth: “Fanfarones was invented
in 2012 as an experiment in sound, to add a pair of flutes to a wind
octet. We decided it was more fun with ten, and so have kept with this
formation. Core members at the time in 2012 were Tom Fleming, Bill
Krangle, Helen Graham, Dorothy Ward and John Liddle. Our playermembers
are drawn from the wind sections of community orchestras
across the Toronto area.
“The name Fanfarones is Italian for ‘blowhards,’ which we consider
to be both a pun on wind players, and poking some fun at ourselves if
we ever got too arrogant, given the English language meaning (somebody
who boasts and brags). We also like to say that Fanfarones means
“quirky, elegant music.”
They perform music originally written for their instrumentation,
as well as arrangements, and their programming ranges from classical
through to modern day popular music. The earliest original piece
for such instrumentation that they have found so far is a work by
Donizetti.
All in all, Fanfarones are 11 musicians who celebrate beautiful music
that surprises as well as delights. The group is comprised of pairs of
flutes, oboes, clarinets, French horns and bassoons. Sometimes they
refer to themselves as a “dectet.” The 11th member is conductor John
Liddle, who on occasion plays trumpet with the group. In Helen
Graham’s words: “We create a sonority that plays with a broad palette
of instrumental colours. Orchestral musicians who also revel in that
small group vibe, we provide quirky, elegant music.”
Other News
As I have mentioned previously, for many years my contact with
Silverthorn Symphonic Winds has been Heather Engli. Heather
decided to make a drastic move to Wolfville, Nova Scotia a few weeks
ago. She now tells me that she is loving Wolfville. She already has
hooked up with Dan Kapp, of New Horizons renown, who moved
there some months ago. She is also very busy playing with the
Fanfarones
Symphonic Band at the university and singing in a church choir. Dan
Kapp also plays in the Symphonic Band and has invited her to play
in the King’s County Community Band. It’s a great example of the
social benefits of playing in musical groups, and of how one can find
community through music.
Just Missed
As I write this, I am looking forward to the Wychwood Clarinet Choir’s
Halloween concert “Creepy Clarinets” on October 27. Unfortunately,
it will have passed by the time this issue is available. It includes
Humperdink’s Overture to Hansel and Gretel; Moussorgsky’s Baba
Yaga’s Hut and Great Gate of Kiev; Mancini’s; The Pink Panther and
Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King.
BANDSTAND QUICK PICKS
!!
NOV 2, 2:30PM: The combined Navy bands of Toronto’s HMCS York and Hamilton’s
HMCS Star present their Remembrance Concert at the Cathedral Church of St.
James, 106 King St. E in Toronto.
!!
NOV 2, 7:30PM: Toronto’s Professional Flute Choir, Flute Street will be joined by
special guests, Les Flûtistes de Montréal, at the Church of St. Peter and St. Simonthe-Apostle,
525 Bloor St. E. If you are not familiar with the variety of flute sizes, this
is a great chance to hear them. From the usual concert flute this group includes alto
flutes, bass flutes, contrabass flutes and even a giant sub contrabass flute. Compared
to the regular flute, about two feet long, this instrument stands over six feet tall.
!!
NOV 2, 7:30PM: “A Little Wind Music” by Upper Canada Brass will include
Impressions by Paul Lovatt-Cooper, When Thunder Calls by Len Ballantine and
Hannaford Street March by Kevin Lau. St. Paul’s Anglican Church-Innisfil, 3294 St.
Paul’s Crescent St., Barrie.
!!
NOV 23, 7:30PM: Silverthorn Symphonic Winds will present their fall concert at the
Wilmar Heights Events Centre, 963 Pharmacy Ave., Toronto.
!!
NOV 29, 7:30PM: The Newmarket Citizens Band will be at Newmarket’s historic
Old Town Hall, 460 Botsford Street, to present their formal seasonal concert, ”Winter
Fantasy,” with special guests, Marquee Theatrical Productions Elite Intermediate
Youth Group.
Jack MacQuarrie plays several brass instruments and
has performed in many community ensembles. He can
be contacted at bandstand@thewholenote.com.
thewholenote.com November 2019 | 45