TSO’s program, The Hockey Sweater, fittingly opened with “Canada’s second national anthem”, composer Deloris Claman’s Hockey Night in Canada theme, led by RBC resident conductor Trevor Wilson, (in referee attire).
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Host Abigail Richardson-Schulte introduced the two TSO teams, Team Woodwinds Brass and Percussion and Team Strings. Sections of the orchestra (many wearing hockey sweaters) displayed their instruments as the host drew analogies to hockey players positioned on the rink.
The TSO launched into the William Tell Overture (Finale), Team Strings and Team Winds, Brass and Percussion engaged in frenetic melodic pursuit. In a slow motion ’replay’, the host called on the strings to demonstrate how they bounced their bows and commented on the score’s sudden changes in dynamics. Next followed Rimsky Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumble Bee, in lightning speed, again followed by a slow-motion replay, The host commented on the melody being snatched from Team Strings by Team Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion. As a “surprise” and hugely successful play, met with bravos and foot stopping by orchestra and audience, TSYO’s Andrew Neagoe entered to play the Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 2, Mov’t 3. Queried by the host on his performance strategy, the soloist explained that “you take it one phrase at a time,” in hockey and in music.
Roch Carrier and Abigail, composer and host, seated by his side. Photo: TSO
The Hockey Sweater was the culmination. It was narrated by its iconic author Roch Carrier. Illustrator Sheldon Cohen’s images were flashed on two large screens over the stage, as the TSO played host Abigail Richardson-Schulte’s well-known musical score. The story is set in rural Quebec in the 1940’s. School, church and hockey are the three pillars of community life. A 10-year-old longs to wear a Canadiens hockey sweatshirt like his hero, Maurice Richard. His mother orders it from the Eaton Catalogue. When the equivalent of the modern-day Amazon delivery truck drops off the wrong hockey sweatshirt (Toronto Maple Leafs rather than Canadiens) the lad is crushed. His mother explains that it is not what you wear on your back in life, but what is in your mind that counts. Responding angrily, he breaks his hockey stick. To the strains of organ music, he is urged to keep working on character refinement. A thoughtful life lesson. The musical score supports and punctuates the verbal narrative elegantly through well -chosen dynamics and instrumentation.
All in all, a well-crafted program of good music and good sportsmanship. Musician Trading Cards (the program notes) quote members of the TSO on their performance strategies. Cellist Lucia Ticho, #14 observes profoundly: “Don’t beat yourself up over a bad practice session, lesson or performance. You can always pick yourself back up.” An excellent survival strategy to live by.
