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Rather than begin with the traditional Sousa march, the conductor opted tonight to begin with a light melody sure to please anyone young at heart... La Canzone del Coccodrillo, from the film "Peter Pan", followed by an old traditional tune you are certain to, not only recognize but, sing along....
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One of my fondest memory from those concerts in the park involves our parish choir. Every Montreal's parish in those days had a large choir, composed of dozens of men, women and children. One night, our 80 member St-Marc parish choir joined the 35-piece band in several numbers. The one I remember the most vividly was that fabulous waltz from Strauss... the Blue Danube and, to this day, whenever I hear it, I close my eyes and return to that fantastic night, so many years ago... when 80 voices, forty of which were children's voices floated over the entire area. It went something like this.... (minus those voices which, unfortunately, can only be heard in one's subconscient).
Oddly enough, The Blue Danube was initially a failure! But then, with time, it became so popular as to almost become the second national anthem of Austria! Even Brahms admired it if the following anecdote is to be believed (and why shouldn't it?) One night, Straus and his wife were visiting him and when Mrs Strauss asked for his autograph he wrote the opening theme to the Blue Danube then added underneath it "Alas, not by Joh. Brahms!".
When was the last time you took pen and paper and wrote a note, a letter to a friend? Not a typewritten or e-mailed note but a bona-fide 'hand' written letter? Want to recreate a long-lost experience? What better than to do so while listening to the following number, playing lightly in the background. Try it and you just might want to do so more often... it's habit forming.
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Don't know just who to write to? No problem; just send 'me' a note describing how nice it feels to once again 'personally' send a relative, a new-found friend a letter, one of those gratifying, daily habits we, in the gogo generation seem to have lost! The address is John Sauvageau P.O. Box 190 Crofton B.C. Canada V0R 1R0 You write, I reply .(promise)Added benefit:Here's your chance to send a real `Dear John' letter!
It was such a nice feeling to actually write someone that you would like to relive that instant once more? We aim to please.... lower the volume, start with a new page as the following number plays in the background....
Sometime, the conductor would dedicate a particular number to a very special person. He would say something like: "And now, I would like to ask you all to join me in dedicating the following number to Gerry C. of Niagara Falls, a very special person indeed".
And now, for a change in pace, a nice lively little number entitled "I can help".
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What did one do for excitement in those days? It may seem quaint given today's hectic pace of life but one of the big pastimes in those days, one any young, and not so young, fella looked forward to was the coming Saturday night's dance at the old DesLorimier Stadium, turned into a dance hall. The same stadium where the Royals used to play. For less than a dollar, you joined maybe another thousand dancing amateurs and listened to some of the biggest dance bands then making the circuit around the province. And there were no metal detectors and drug sniffers in those days either; there was no need for them. You could listen to and dance to numbers such as the following:
A nice slow number to get dancers on the floor.....
Followed by a Tango medley. Tango was very popular in those days.
The following two numbers would have been very popular, had it been written....
Sometime, they would play one of the best known french folkloric songs, just to get people to sing...
When we heard the first notes of that number, we realized all good things must come to an end. It was an 'Au Revoir'..... till next week!
Auld Lang Syne
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Next Concert
That's it Folks !!! See you at the next Concert in the Park
