Year
End party at chez Tomlenovich, June 2004
Katie,
Denise, Heather, Janet and the back of Donna |
Nova
Members Instrument History .... a work in progress
The inspiration for profiling our member's musical instruments came about
partly from the movie The Red Violin, and partly because in waiting for
our executive meeting to come to order we discovered that our instruments
have also had interesting lives of their own.
The
Town Fiddler's Misfortune - Alexandra Truscott
Alexandra found a violin in the attic of her Uncle's farmhouse when she
was 11 years old, and asked if could take it home. The violin had been
stored up there since the town fiddler's lottery, during the great depression.
At that time, the town fiddler had desperately needed money and raffled
off his violin. Many years later, the town fiddler returned from his travels
to visit that farmhouse in Provost, Alberta. He wanted to buy back the
old fiddle he raffled off. He explained that he had never found another
fiddle since, with such a rich tone. Alas it was his misfortune to find
that a young city girl had adopted it and was not selling .....
Nova History - Kathy Rispler
Kathy's A clarinet including a double case was purchased from a former
Nova Clarinetist Joe Mullins. Since the deal was made at a time when money
was tight, Kathy was able to negotiate a sweet deal .... "pennies
a month over a year". Joe in turn bought it from the late Fred Davies,
also a former Nova Clarinetist. This was Fred's first A clarinet and they
don't make clarinets like this anymore. It just goes to show that what
goes around comes around!
The Red Viola - Joan Hube
This journey began in the North-Eastern States where the wood was hand-picked
and cured by an Ontario violin maker. Joan brought the wood home
to Edmonton, and construction began. Joan's viola was lovingly created
(a one piece maple bottom, with a spruce top) over the years 1989 - 1996
by her husband Doug. Named Hubevarius No.1 this viola has the distinction
of being the 'red viola' in our orchestra, although it's coloring has
mellowed with age. |
