President Dan Patterson presents Kiwanis National Little League plaque to Trevor Quinn

President Dan Patterson presents Kiwanis 4K Park plaque to Trevor Quinn

NOTES from 3rd April 2006

Here is a summary of the results of the "Noteworthy" Review carried out at our last meeting. There were 17 in attendance but only 13 responses. Perhaps you can use some of this in the next bulletin. It might be kind of neat to bring along that band uniform to show off! [A uniform has been found!]

1: Favourite Song:

These ranged all the way from "O Canada" to Byron Adams' "Summer of '69". In between were favourites including "Sentimental Journey", "It's a Wonderful World", "Danny Boy", "Give Me A Little Kiss", "You Belong to Me", "Morning Has Broken", "All Things New", "Evergreen" and "DC 10", "Wonderful Day" was also mentioned, but this could have been "Wonderful World".

2: Reason for choosing a particular favourite:

O Canada - Because I live here. Summer of '69 - - Because Byran Adams sang it DC 10 - - Sing-along with kids. Great line - "Do you know where you're going?" All Things New - - Powerful lyrics - great beat. Evergreen - It's therapeutic Sentimental Journey - I love to travel Morning Has Broken - - It's our song. I like the key change between verses. Danny Boy - - So many memories and emotions Give Me a Little Kiss - - We used to sing it to the girls You Belong To Me - - It's been our song from courting days to post-50th Anniversary Wonderful World - - First heard "Sachmo" sing it in a New York nightclub. (Also a couple of us sang it at a fellow Kiwanian's funeral (George Devlin)

3: Favourite Singer

Neil Diamond got three mentions. Besides Neil and Bryan Adams, others included Ben Heffner, Kenny Chesney, John Denver, Kenny Rogers, Harry Belafonte, Anne Murray, Steven Curtis Chapman, The Nylons and Donna Thiessen (nee Quinn - - looks like a little family favouritism here!!)

4: Favourite Instrument

Would you believe someone even said Bagpipes???? The piano came in first with 5 mentions followed by the guitar with 3. The harp, trumpet, violin and clarinet were also mentioned.

5: Favourite Campfire Song

Home on the Range proved most popular, but still was only mentioned twice. Other songs included "Fish and Chips and Vinegar", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "Kumbayah", "Always Look on the Funny Side of Life", "Put Another Log on the Fire", Light My Fire", "Mosquitos and the Bedbugs" (I don't ever remember hearing that one!) and "They Dug Up Grandpa's Grave to Build a Sewer" (a richly sentimental song which I have sung on many occasions!)

6: Favourite Hymn

"How Great Thou Art" led the pack with 4 mentions. Others included "Amazing Grace" and "O Come All Ye Faithful" (with 2 listings each), "Blessed Assurance", "A Mighty Fortress", "Beautiful Saviour", "Children of the Heavenly Father" and "Saviour Breathe An Evening Blessing".

7: Festival Memories

"Sitting and listening - waiting for it to end so my wife could join me for our date." "Competing in a 28 piece concert band in Bathurst, N.B... I was the only trumpet player." "Won first place in a flute duet." "Dancing martial arts at first folk festival." "When my son took first place (trumpet)" "Massed choir singing Hallelujah Chorus at Regina Festival" "Always stressful" "As a parent - always nervous." "When my friend (with a trumpet) and I (with my clarinet) stood in the middle of the huge massed band at a Moose Jaw Band Festival and belted out "When The Saints Go Marching In" while everyone else played the Sousa march that was on the program.

8: Favourite Musical Memories

"Playing my own composition in a High School concert band. "Sound of Music" "Fiddler on the Roof" at Luther College". "Hearing Ken McKellar sing Scottish ballads while visiting Scotland." "Harry Bellafonte concert" "Les Miserables" "Two Pianos - Four Hands" "Spinning my kid brother around in circles on one of those old round piano stools. "Playing the drums foe Gene Dloughy one night at a dance in Virden, Man." "Playing my cornet at Christmas Kettles in various cities and sites - indoor and outdoor."

I'm sure these few memories just scratched the surface. Most of us wouldn't have time to consider all the musical memories in our lives - let alone pick the favourite. I know that my own experience with festivals - as a participant and later as a proud parent and still later, grandparent, combined with participation in musicals back in school and university, in church choirs, in mixed and male-voice community choirs, in Barbershop chorus and Quartet, in Studio Singers, singing at family gatherings and aound campfires, singing in quartets, (eg - the "Whole Notes") and playing in bands (eg. - in High School, at Meota in the summertime, and during recent years, a small band called "The Clef Hangers" (accordion, violin and clarinet). I don't think I could survive without music. I guess it's time to scale down a bit - perhaps to end on a high note!

We look forward to Monday's musical meeting with the Penny and Ted Pennastonto tell us all about the Regina Music Festival, coming up between April 26 and May 10th.

Trev.