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Go to Fan Story Pages [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] Fan Stories!Real life fan stories sent to us by real life fans. Page 5----- Letter from Fan Krista KnechtHello Canadian Brass!
I just saw one of the best performances yet at the Bass Hall in Ft. Worth! DO come back! Last year you were all on a multinational tour and managed to come to Ft. Worth at Thanksgiving! Of course that was the ONE weekend I was "out of town"... well, okay, I went to Rome and Florence for that week...! But it was a thrill to see you at the Bass. Just two quick memories... I have been a fan of yours for over 15 years. I saw my first CB concert when I was in high school, and fortunately the venue happened to be a local high school, so everyone was very "close up & personal"! Afterwards I went backstage and, being a French horn player, naturally gravitated to Graeme Page. I told him I played the horn, and he said he thought I "looked familiar" to him. He then asked me whom I studied under- I didn't have the heart to tell him my high school music leader's name! It was quite memorable for me! Another memory involves a certain tuba player.... Chuck was bemoaning the fact that (very generally speaking) the tuba's musical parts are often ("just") single or double notes supporting the other instruments. He expressed a desire to show us "what the tuba could really do".... he proceeded to come to front center stage, sit down Indian-style, put the tuba in what would have been his lap.... and perfectly played "Flight of the Bumblebee"! I will never again doubt the capability of Chuck - or the tuba!! It has been wonderful through the years- thank you! Fondly, Krista Knecht ----- Some More from Rev. HillA follow up
Nate's older brother, Jeremy, went with me over 10 years ago to see and hear the Canadian Brass when they were in Waterville Valley. This past November, (11/1999), the CB were performing (is THAT what it's called?) in Portland, Maine, and Nate wanted to go. Well, a side story is something about a special Beatles song (When I'm Sixty-four) and my fiancé and me, but Nate really deserves a plug here. He and I had been talking about musical instruments, and he said he wanted to learn how to play the trombone. That's great, I thought, as I played the trombone throughout my school years (over 30 + years ago - - Happy Anniversary, CB!). So... Nate was with my fiancé and me at the concert in Portland, Maine, and afterwards he wanted to talk with all of the CB, but especially Gene Watts. Sufficient to say, as many of the CB fans know, after a concert, the guys come out and sign autographs and pose for pictures and talk ... with as many of the fans as they can. Well, I was touched that Gene took the time to spend at least (and I mean actually MORE) than 10 minutes talking with a 10 year old, patiently answering questions, and finally sending him off with an encouraging word to "practice well." Two months later, Nate has his own (used) trombone, can play the scale in Bb (as well as several other notes) and is looking forward to the day when he can go see the CB again! Gene (and the rest of you guys) - Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being willing to stop and talk to a potential future musician. I have read about what you have done in Canada with your youth musical groups and just wish that there were something around here similar. Oh well .... at least all of the CD's we have won't wear out like the cassette tapes did! We hope that you will come back to the New England area soon ... and we will do our best to join you! Rev. Jim Hill and Nate ----- Photos and Comments from KarenThese photos were taken backstage at the December 5th Aurora, Illinois CB concert. There was a pre-concert lecture by Ronnie, followed by an open discussion with the fans in attendance. There were quite a few questions and very honest and informative answers. When the concert began, the guys came down the aisle playing. It was evident from the some faces in the audience that they had never been to a Brass concert before. They were enthralled! The concert was a combination of holiday music and the traditional Canadian Brass (if there is such a thing as traditional with them). The audience really got into it when they played The Saints' Halleluja and gave a standing ovation at the end.
Afterwards, there were probably a couple of hundred fans waiting to see the guys, talk to them, have a picture taken or have something autographed. I don't think that one fan went away without meeting and talking to them. Everyone had a smile. Karen ----- Letter from WoodyBravo. This is the second time I have been to a Canadian Brass concert, and both times I have heard exceptionally well performed and FUN music. Just file me with the thousands (?millions) of others who appreciate your talents. There is one point of interest I would like to offer. During the concert yesterday, the CB played the brass version of Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. This is a favorite piece of music of mine. It was introduced to me as a teenager on a bet with a teacher. She said I couldn't sit still long enough to appreciate string music. (At the time I was listening to "Come Together," by the Beatles!) I won the bet, but she got what she wanted. I'll bet in 30 years I have listened to this five hundred times. Your version is as good as any I have ever heard. In your introduction, you mention this was performed in the movie
"Platoon." But the origin of Adagio? Everyone who has read concert notes knows that this is the adagio from Barber's String Quartet, Opus 11, written in 1936. But the story is not often told as to why the adagio was separated from the Quartet. It was at the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in April 1945 this was speedily arranged for this occasion. Although I was not born till 7 years later, I have read historical accounts of the effect this music had at that distinct moment in time. It was a defining moment in our nation's musical history. Oh, Yea, you're from Canada! Keep up the good work. Woody Leland ----- From John StoverAgain our biggest fan, John Stover, couldn't resist meeting us at a special event. Here's his comment:
The CB started as usual with Just A Closer Walk With Thee, followed by Ellingtonís Cottontail, Echoes of Harlem, and Come Sunday. Next they played Penny Lane, Blackbird, and Come Together from their Beatles album. Barberís Adagio and Tuba Tiger Rag finished the show for the small but appreciative audience, many of whom stayed around to talk to the members of the Brass and have CDs signed. ----- |
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About
40 listeners enjoyed a mini concert by the Canadian Brass as part
of the grand opening of The Woodwind and the Brasswind instrument
store in NYC on September 14. Some people learned about the
concert from the CB web site, while others saw a publicity notice
in the window of the store. One man stopped by in the morning to
have an instrument repaired and returned after work for the show.
