|
Sunday, October 20,
2002
1:14 p.m.
Magical moment #1: Gary Corbett, a fine soprano player from
the early '60's told me he couldn't play because he'd just recently had
by-pass surgery. When Barry Bell raised his arms in preparation of the first
note of music heard from the Optimists in 24 years, there was Gary with his
horn at the ready.
1:36 p.m. Magic moment #2: The hornline plays its first
note. It was the most ragged, poorly executed beautiful note I've heard in
decades.
Mid afternoon: Magic moment #3: Barry asks Joe Gianna if he
wants to try it. It being a very powerful solo played by Joe in the opening
of Taboo, 1962-63. Joe said, "sure". My knees buckle as I hear this long
lost memory. It wasn't perfect but there was no mistaking who owned the
tone.
3:25 p.m. Magic moment #4: Upstairs, 14 drummers are wailing
away on practice pads under the close scrutiny of Bob Cook. He's all over
them about executional problems, adamantly refusing to recognize the 25 to
35 years of accumulated rust.
3:50 p.m. Magic moment #5: Lorne Ferrazzutti teaches the
snare part to Taboo. He stops to tell a story. The drummers tell him what he
can do with his story. He tells it anyway.
4:05 p.m. Magic moment #6: Mhairi Cumming, a member of the
Seneca Optimists Colour Guard, sheds a tear of joy at hearing the Optimists
play again.
4:20 p.m. Magic moment #7: Al Miller shows the women in the
guard the finer points of hurtling an 11 pound, fully chromed Lee Enfield
rifle into the air.
4:25 p.m. Magic moment #8: Barry Bell is still Barry Bell.
4:30 p.m. Magic moment #9: Ensemble. It was ragged. It was
thin in the bottom end. The drums lacked oomph because they were playing on
a piece of lumber. None of it mattered. After 1 rehearsal, the Optimists
Alumni Corps had one complete tune in the bag. And it was beautiful noise.
5:05 p.m. Magic moment #10: Each person in attendance stood
up and told us who they are and who they used to be. Many spoke of how
absolutely delighted they were to be doing this again.
If you can spare one Sunday afternoon a month and find
yourself regularly reminiscing about the old days, the old ways please join
us. It's a celebration of the music of Colonel Truman Crawford. Anyone who
ever marched in a corps in the golden age of drum corps (the golden age
being whenever YOU marched) is welcome to join us. If you have a horn,
please bring it. If you need one, please let us know and we'll have one
ready for you. If you're drumming, bring sticks. Sunday, November 24th, 1-5
p.m. Royal Canadian Legion (former Shrine) 1395 Lakeshore Boulevard West
(just east of the Boulevard Club at the foot of Dowling St).
The magic moments continue.
|
