On Monday September 17, 2012 the members of the Manotick Brass Ensemble and their small entourage of spouses and friends arrived in Jersey, the largest of the British Channel Islands. The two-week trip was a dream-come-true for Martin Luce, trombone player and manager of the Manotick Brass. Martin, who was born and raised in Jersey, meticulously designed and organized the visit, assembling a varied programme of entertainment. The five musicians, Kazimier Samujlo and Chris Sandes (trumpets), Christine Hansen (French horn), Martin Luce (trombone) and Harold Floysvik (tuba) performed on nine different occasions. 

Manotick Brass with pupils at St. Martins Parish School

The group brought their popular education programme, “What’s the Buzz” to three local primary Parish Schools in Trinity, St. Martins and St. John. The presentation is designed to introduce young children to the brass instrument family “in an interacting and engaging way.” The pupils in each school entered into the spirit of the event, clapping, singing, marching and laughing. During the windup question and answer session at the end of one performance, a little 5 year old boy told the musicians that they had made his day!  

The audience loved the sassy cow!

 There were many opportunities to appeal to the grown-up music lovers as well. Two of the performances had distinct themes: ”Joyful Brass” and “Shining Brass”. The second half of both concerts provided a trip down memory lane for Martin and his many relatives, friends and former neighbours. The musical selections reflected Martin’s youthful adventures, his childhood on the Luce farm and joyful Sunday School picnics. One of the most popular numbers was a lively rendition of “Who Let the Cows Out?” – a tribute to one of Jersey’s most endearing and enduring symbols, the Jersey cow. Right on cue, courtesy of Patti and Rosa, a sassy, dancing cow stole the show from the quintet and flirted shamelessly with audience members. 

There was also an impromptu concert for a herd of Jersey cows we encountered on the way back from a school presentation. After hastily pulling their instruments from the vans, the ensemble played with gusto and the beautiful bovines cantered across the field to the group to listen with rapt appreciation.

For the final concert at St. Heliers Town Church, the Brass paid tribute to the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The programme featured pieces that reflected the many visits The Queen has made to Canada over her long reign. The highlight of this concert was “A Canadian Royal Salute,” based on a composition by Antoinne Desane, an organist and composer living in Quebec in the 1860s. The version played in St. Heliers, commissioned by Manotick Brass, was arranged by Ottawa composer and arranger, Lloyd Hiscock. The stirring combination of “Vive la Canadienne” and “ God Save the Queen” was an audience favourite.

Concert in St. Helier Town Church – photo – M. Lapointe

There was a charitable component to the concerts, with the revenue from ticket sales for the St Martin’s Concert (Shining Brass) going towards paying down the debt for the renovation to the church hall. This came to over BPS 600.00. At the Town Church, donations of over BPS 100.00 went to the organ renovation fund. 

Presenting "The Pirates of Penzance" - with sincere apologies to Gilbert & Sullivan!

Despite the rehearsals and performances, there was plenty of time to sample the many attractions that Jersey offers.  We travelled from coast to coast to coast to coast.  We enjoyed dramatic weather, as gale force winds whipped the north coast.  We has a sobering history lesson as we visited the Jersey War Tunnels – a chilling reminder of the Nazi occupation of Jersey during the Second World War.  We even managed to fit in some international travel in the form of a day trip to St. Malo in Brittany.  The statue of Jacques Cartier and numerous references to the great explorer gave us a taste of home.

Manotick Brass visits Corbiere Lighthouse

 What is a holiday without wonderful food? Jersey abounds in palate-pleasing opportunities – pub lunches, afternoon tea and sumptuous dinners. The island is a paradise for those who love seafood.  Best of all, of course, was the hospitality we received throughout our stay. From the warm welcome at the airport, to the tea, coffee and desserts after evening concerts, to the invitation to afternoon tea at the home of friends, to a dinner party hosted by the Luce family, we were treated royally.

Visit our Jersey Gallery for more photos

The enthusiastic audience of over 150 people enjoyed an hour of music associated with Royal Visits to Canada by The Queen as well as music representing scenes from British life during her 60 year reign. 

The highlight of the concert was the first public performance of a new arrangement by Lloyd Hiscock titled “A Canadian Royal Salute”.

This was a special commission by Manotick Brass to commemorate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee year.   It is based on a composition by Antoinne Dessane, an organist and composer living in Quebec City around 1865.  

 The original composition was scored for 3 clarinets, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones and 2 percussionists.  Lloyd’s new arrangement of the piece for brass quintet builds on Dessane’s idea of combining “Vive la Canadienne” with “God Save the Queen”.  Lloyd has edited the work to make it more relevant for today’s audience and has expanded the latter part where the two melodies come together. 

  In commissioning the work Manotick Brass felt that combining these two melodies was a wonderful way to send Canadian appreciation and greetings to Her Majesty.  Following the concert members of the Rideau Historical Society served old fashioned ice cream to the audience – a delightful ending to a wonderful afternoon.

Manotick Brass with Lloyd Hiscock and Clive Wright

Star of the evening was undoubtedly Armas Maiste who brought out all the great qualities of the Yahama grand piano kindly provided by Ottawa Pianos for the evening concert.  Armas was for many years the principle pianist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the NACO in Ottawa.  Following a beautiful rendition of Chopin`s Fantasie Impromptu, Armas brought the house down with a selection of Blues and Jazz.  Other performers included the Barrhaven United Church Choir under the direction of Barbara Ackinson, Miriam Fitzgerald Celtic harp, Shirl Kennedy, Don McIntyre, Marlene Basarab, and The Illustrious Church Orchestra.   The evening was a grand success for a grand cause!

All the World Loves a Clown!

Buzzing is hard work

Having mastered buzzing on the mouthpiece the young students then got to play the fanfare trumpets.  In small groups of 5 or 6 students were given individual coaching by a member of Manotick Brass.  Everyone quickly learned to get a sound out of the trumpets and a number of students managed to blow several notes.  Having mastered the trumpet the students came together in groups of 4 to play their own fanfare.  Toy soldier hats added to the ceremonial atmosphere. 

Is that sound really me?

Following a question and answer period everyone put on some Mexican attire and was given a hand percussion instrument.  The lively Mexican Folk Song finale involving the entire class really brought home the message that music is fun!  Throughout the 2 workshops the hallways of the school resounded to the sound of brass music and drew a number of other class teachers in to inquire about presentations to their classes.

Music is Fun!

Also participating in the program was the Holy Trinity Anglican Church Choir and The Intermittents, an entertaining group of male gospel singers.  The Manotick Brass was joined by Paula Lundrigan for two arrangements for organ and brass.  These were “Nun Danket alle Got by J. S. Bach and a rousing arrangement of the Easter Hymn from the opera “Cavalleria Rusticana”. 

The concert was well received by the audience with the Manotick Brass playing an encore.  Sales of the 2 Manotick Brass CDs were brisk.  

Listen to There’s No Business Like Show Business recorded during the Pembroke cocert.

Adding Cuban sunshine to the Pembroke concert

 Listen to: Brazil recorded live 2011 and join in the conga!   

Upon arrival in Varadero, our group was warmly greeted at the airport by our hosts – an auspicious omen of the hospitality we would receive throughout our visit. Among those receiving us was the pastor of the Dore Valentin Presbyterian Reform Church, who had volunteered to coordinate the visit through the Cuban Council of Churches.  He proved to be a true “man for all seasons” – inspiring religious leader, expert tour guide, chauffeur, gracious host and, perhaps most importantly, very good friend to the visitors. 

Donations of musical instruments (including trombones, trumpets, clarinets, violins, guitars, a French horn, saxophone and keyboard), musical accessories, as well as much-appreciated cash came from people throughout the area.  Instruments in need of repair were looked after by MUSICARE, usually free of charge.  Transportation of these gifts was a daunting task.  Seven suitcases full of instruments made the journey without extra charges, thanks to the generosity of Sunwing Airline and Algonquin Travel.  

Performances were staged in churches of various denominations in Varadero, Matanzas, Cardenas and Havana.  In Havana, we also played at a nursing home, run by the Roman Catholic Church.  The audiences were treated to a  repertoire of Latin and Canadian music, much of it with a gospel theme.  All of the music was received enthusiastically, but in every case, the strongest emotional reaction was saved for  El Mambi, a traditional Cuban melody arranged by Ottawa composer and arranger E.F. Lloyd Hiscock. A large number of the senior audience members sang along and many shed tears.  Listen to El Mambi recorded live in Cuba.

One of the main purposes of the trip was to visit the Matanzas School of the Arts.  The 398 students at this school follow a regular curriculum in addition to an intensive program of either music or dance.  Upon our arrival, the pupils, who were lined up along the outside steps and on the second-storey balconies, gave the visiting Canadians a reception of rock-star proportions.   

Reception on arrival at Matanzas Arts School

 The joy continued during an outdoor concert featuring staff and students, including dancers and musicians.  The Manotick Brass reciprocated enthusiastically with an assortment of lively music.   Later, in the office of the school’s director, we realized one of the main objectives of the trip:  the presentation of the instruments brought from Canada.  The director was moved to say that on that day they had received more instruments than they had been given over a span 27 years.  

Delivering the musical instruments

Leading up to the trip, fund-raising concerts received excellent publicity, with articles in the Manotick Messenger, EMC and the Ottawa Citizen, as well as a documentary made by a student at Algonquin College.  Interviews with trumpet player Kazimier Samujlo, which aired on CBC Radio One and North Country Public Radio in Canton NY, also helped boost attendance.

The above was reproduced from an original article by Theresa Kelly

For more pictures of Manotick Brass in Cuba go to Cuba Gallery