The Lure of Concert Bands
Concert bands are magnets for people everywhere. A concert band strikes up a piece of music in a park, and people are drawn to it. A concert band marches in a parade, and people are stirred to march in time with it. Dressed in crisp uniforms with a variety of instruments, concert bands have emerged to delight residents and leaders alike.
Every community in Lambton County has been inspired to put some sort of music group together. Alvinston, Inwood, Watford, Petrolia, Arkona, Thedford, Forest, and Sarnia all had concert bands. Many of the early settlers of these communities were ex-military and since bands were an essential part of their military service lives, it seemed necessary for their civilian life too.
Howard Cable - Bandmaster
Howard (Reid) Cable, born in Toronto December 15th 1920, was a leading figure in the musical life of Canada for over 70 years. He was widely considered one of the most important Canadian composers and arrangers of music for wind bands having wrote over 80 compositions. One of his most iconic and recognizable compositions and arrangements was the original theme for the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, The Saturday Game. He arranged the solo piano piece for Dolores Claman.
His familiarity with a broad repertoire kept him in demand as an arranger/composer worldwide. He worked in musical theatre on Broadway, conducting for stars like Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Jim Carrey.
In 2006 a commissioned piece by Fairbank, Baines, and the Petrolia Concert Band was put to music with ‘Hard Oil’. This composition, presented by the Lambton Concert Band at its show "Jigs & Rigs" at the Victoria Playhouse, Petrolia was composed of three movements saluting the area’s rich oil heritage. This was the drillers, the jerker lines, and the gusher. At 85 years young, Cable had the opportunity to watch its debut which received enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation. He passed on March 30th, 2016.
Lambton Concert Band
The Lambton Concert Band began in 2001. Norm Sutherland, a musician from Petrolia, energetically got this band in motion, and Chris Coyle and Dave Parkes, both accomplished trumpet players and teachers at LCCVI (Lambton Central Collegiate and Vocational Institute) at the time, volunteered to conduct the newly formed band. This was an exciting development in Lambton County, since a full concert band comparable to the Bluewater Symphonic Band or the Petrolia Concert Band had not existed in the county for at least ten years.
The band's uniform was two-tone green golf shirts and black pants. Their first concert was at the Victoria Hall in Petrolia. Seventy four people were in the band then, with about half of them high school students.
One of the band’s distinguished conductors was Howard Cable. He was invited to direct at the February 21, 2002, concert. Cable worked in radio and television and happened to become acquainted with Kim Gilmore, a tuba player with the Lambton Concert Band. She invited him to come to Sarnia to conduct the band. The concert featured a number of Cable's arrangements and compositions, such as O Canada, Ontario Pictures, Hockey Night in Canada Theme (a piece he arranged for band in 2001), Highlights from the Sound of Music, and Scottish Rhapsody.
Other guest conductors of the band have included Henry Meredith (former professor of music at the University of Western Ontario) and Jeff Christmas (son of Art Christmas and a music university professor). Over the years, band conductors changed, but they were always Lambton County teachers. They included Blake Stevenson, Geoff Gander, and Tessa Catton, the band’s current conductor.
The year 2020 marked its 20th anniversary!
Military Concert Bands
The presence of military in Lambton County fostered the growth of music. The military wore handsome uniforms and needed music to accompany their assemblies, marches, and special events.
The musicians in military bands are highly skilled and continue to provide musical support to all levels of government, including a variety of public functions.
From instilling national pride in audiences across Canada to performing at international events with a high degree of diplomacy and statesmanship, bands continue to be highly visible throughout the Canadian Forces. Currently there are 73 bands listed within the Canadian Forces on the Government of Canada website, 32 of which are located here in Ontario.
Sarnia 27th Regiment Band
In 1866 Canada was organized into 18 military districts. Lambton County was responsible for the 27th Lambton Battalion of Infantry, called the St. Clair Borderers. The 27th regiment was not a standing army; they were volunteers who came out regularly to practice and train.
The band formed for the 27th Regiment consisted of men from various Lambton communities, including musicians from the Sarnia Independent Band and the Forest Excelsior Band. Sometimes the entire Sarnia Independent Band or the Forest Excelsior Band served as the regiment band. They became known as the 27th Battery or Battalion Militia Band of Sarnia, or the Twenty Seventh Regiment Band.
The Lambton regiment started in 1914 and sent recruits to serve with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The band played at the going-away St. George's church service for the volunteers sent overseas to Valcartier and headed the parade of sixty four regiment volunteers, the local company of the army medical corps, the Kiltie Band, and thirty boy scouts. Marching up Front Street from the armory and then over to the church, it was standing room only in the aisles and entryways for this church service. This band did not accompany troops that left Sarnia but instead remained a Sarnia-based band to play at other military functions and area military camps.
Watford Silver Band
The earliest historical mention of the Watford Silver Band in Watford was playing at the 1897 fall fair. Will ("Professor") Hastings led the band who also held presence at the church service to send off troops during World War I. The bands gave regular concerts at the Watford bandstand and were noted to look very striking at its concert "with tall silk hats, long frock coats, and white gloves".
Arkona Brass Band
In 1876, the Arkona Masonic Lodge noted that the Arkona Brass Band led the way on their march to Rock Glen. They played every summer Saturday evening at the bandstand including concerts on national holidays. Bands from Forest, Parkhill, Watford, or Thedford often partnered with the Arkona Brass Band to put on shows, with financial support from the village council.
Forest Excelsior Band
In 1884, the Forest Excelsior Band was formed with ten people on its roster. Alfred Hill, the first reeve for the town, was the conductor. It played for a skating carnival, had an open air concert in Forest, played at the Caledonian games in Woodstock, and marched at the Orangemen parade in Warwick Village. It also started its annual tradition of playing at the town fair. Their uniforms were grey with cockades on the caps and the coats had long coattails with red stripes. The band competed in its first contest in May,1885, and won first prize.
The band uniforms were changed up regularly. In 1888, the red stripes in the coattails were taken out, and the cockade caps were replaced by helmets with willow plumes. In 1908, the new uniforms were dark red with black trim and Sam Browne belts (a military style belt that included a strap going diagonally over the right shoulder). These were replaced in 1923 with grey uniforms, trimmed in black braid. In general, the band's uniforms were military style.
After a Wintario grant was received in 1978, new uniforms were ordered that were composed of forest green blazers, grey skirts and slacks, white shirts, and green ties. This was a change from "business suits" which were the stated uniform in the 1950's and 1960's.
Over the years, the band went through good times and lean times. The 1920's were lean years when the band performed just once a year -- at Christmas time. Band leaders lasted a short time and then quit. In the mid-1950's, there was talk of scrapping the band, but the Forest Rotary Club stepped in to assist in hiring and paying a full time bandmaster. They hired Ernest Wetton in 1956, and he remained in that position for more than twenty years.
In 1982, Tim Hummel became the conductor. He had just been hired to teach at North Lambton Secondary School, the public high school in Forest. The band was in decline, with about twelve members. Tim Hummel continued as conductor until 1991. During his stint as conductor, the band decided to become more of a jazz/swing band, and its popularity increased. Dave Williams, also a music teacher at the Forest high school, took over briefly in 1991, and then Dan Dumais took over in 1992 when he became a music teacher at North Lambton Secondary School. Dan is presently conductor in 2020.
Today, the Forest Excelsior Band bills itself as the longest continuously running civilian band in Canada. It has gone through several forms, including a militia band (during World War I), marching band, minstrel show band, "old boys clown band", concert band, and now a jazz/big band.
Petrolia Citizens Band
As early as 1869, a brass band was reported to be in Petrolia. As with many community bands at the time, the band folded under financial troubles and was resurrected a few years later as the Petrolia Citizens Band. The band held many honours and was noted to be one of the most talented brass bands to ever play in the county.
For three years in a row; 1927, 1928, 1929, under William Taylor the bandmaster the band captured first prize for Class C1 at Canadian National Exhibition annual music competition held in Toronto.
Percy Cox - Bandmaster
Percy Cox, born in London England, began his musical career at the age of 17 when he became a member of the Leytonston Salvation Army Band and the Headquarters Singers located on Fortress Road in London. It was with the band that he studied the cornet and at sometime early in life the piano, becoming proficient in both.
On March 16th 1911, Percy set sail for Canada, leaving the harbour in Liverpool at 4:50pm. By March 27th he made it to Port Arthur where he met his future wife Eva MacArthur.
To Percy Cox, music was the love of his life which he pursued with vigour and with much success. He immediately joined local concert bands while working, raising a family, and teaching piano and other musical instruments. By 1939 his music career flourished and Percy took a job with the Canadian Oil Company in Petrolia, being offered the position of Bandmaster of its newly acquired Petrolia Citizens Band now to be known as the Petrolia White Rose Concert Band. Immediately he took to preparing the band for the C.N.E which to everyone's delight, took first prize for three years.
Teaching was an important part of his life in Petrolia. In his small studio in the Town Hall, he gave instruction to hundreds of young men and women in wind, reed, and tympanic instruments. He continued his love for music and the band until his peaceful passing August 29th, 1969.
Petrolia White Rose Band
In 1939, the Petrolia Citizen’s Band was renamed the White Rose Band. Under bandmaster Percy Cox, they went to the Toronto CNE where they won first prize in Class B in 1940, 1941, and 1947. During the Second World War thirty eight of the band members joined the armed forces. Even during the war, the band never had less than thirty five members.
Norm Sutherland, in his notes as secretary, attributes this to the the efforts of Percy Cox maintaining a junior band and giving lessons. The Canadian Oil Company continued to subsidize the band until the company moved to Chemical Valley in Sarnia in 1948. At that time, the band changed its name to the Petrolia Concert Band.
Petrolia Concert Band
Despite the lost of the Canadian Oil Company sponsorship, the band, renamed the Petrolia Concert Band, continued with Percy Cox as bandmaster. Les Clifford, a long time trumpet player with the band, was the assistant director. The concert band ran three different “organizations” a senior band that had 25 members, a junior band that had 15 members, and a beginners class that had 20 members. One of the memorable players was Big Bill Kushnir, the bass drum player, who would pound out the beat.
The band would always play a hymn first to warm up. At every band concert, dress appearance was just as important as the music. Pressed pants, clean clothes, and a belt washed white were all necessary. At one concert, one of the percussion musicians was scheduled to be featured in a solo. Percy was talking to band members on stage just before the concert and noticed that the percussion musician was not wearing the white belt. He had left it at home. Percy ordered the musician off the stage and removed that solo piece from the concert. Percy stayed active in the band practically until his death in 1969. The band later collapsed.
Sarnia Citizens Band
In 1935 when Sarnia’s 27h Regimental Band disbanded, the Sarnia group that used to be called the Sarnia Independent Band was renamed the Sarnia Citizen’s Band. They continued to play music in open air summer church services throughout Sarnia, joining other bands such as the Salvation Army Band, Robinson’s Boys Band, and Pressey Boys Band.
Art Christmas - Bandmaster
The Sarnia Citizens Band was renamed the Bluewater Symphonic Band to reflect the expanding membership of the band since members came from all over Lambton County and even. Art Christmas was its director and known as a whirlwind of musical energy in Sarnia. Besides leading the Bluewater Symphonic Band, he worked at Alexander Mackenzie High School, then Northern Collegiate, and finally at St. Clair High School in Sarnia.
Art Christmas was a standout in many ways. Frilly shirts, wildly coloured pants and shirts, and stand-out outfits were commonplace for him. He also stood out for his donations from all the enterprises he organized and led. One of those was the Art Christmas Aggregation, a musical theatre group that donated over $100 000 to community projects. Members of the band say that Art had very firm ideas. It was "his way or the highway", so people either loved him or hated him. He was an accomplished musician and if someone in the band had difficulty playing a part, Art would come over, use their instrument, and play it seemingly effortlessly. Drums, clarinet, trumpet, he could play it. And musicians such as Jim Belrose mention his playing of these instruments was at a caliber above the band's.
Because of ill health, Art decided he could not keep going with the band and the Aggregation. They disbanded in the 1989-1990 season.
William Brush - Bandmaster
William brush was the bandmaster of the Sarnia Independent Band, later the Sarnia Citizen’s Band. He was also involved in directing the orchestra and band at the Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School (SCITS) and the Royal Canadian Air Force Cadets Band in Sarnia.
William was the first president of the Lambton County Music Festival. He spent over 46 years as a bandmaster for various bands in Sarnia and was once arrested for leading a parade without having a parade license.
The Sarnia Citizens Band played every Tuesday evening in the summer at Victoria Park bandshell in Sarnia. People came early to set up their chairs and would listen from their cars, so the streets were packed with vehicles. The bandshell became too rickety and rundown over the years so it was torn down and concerts moved to the Canatara Park bandshell. That bandshell was built to honour William Brush. A plaque is placed on the front of the bandshell about this, and is visible to this day.
William Brush was widely known as a music teacher who taught all of Sarnia to love music. Those who recall him describe him as a “calm, respected, and very nice man.”
William Brush passed away in 1954.
Bandmaster
The bandmaster or conductor of the band chose the music, motivated, and directed the band. Without a bandmaster, a band would often disintegrate.
There were three long time, striking bandmasters in Lambton County. William Brush led the Sarnia Citizens Band and got paid by the band and also was paid for leading the music and playing organ at a local church.
Percy Cox led the Petrolia White Rose Band and was employed by the Canada Oil Company. Art Christmas led the Bluewater Symphonic Band and taught at a Sarnia high school.
William Brush trained on cornet. When he lived in Sarnia, he also played organ and violin. Percy Cox also trained on cornet and he gave lessons on all instruments in the Petrolia White Rose Band. Art Christmas was a trumpet player, although, like William Brush and Percy Cox, he could play any band instrument.
All these bandmasters were excellent musicians, being able to play more than one instrument. And they were stern taskmasters for the bands they led, aiming at excellence in both music and decorum. That included both musical ability and attention to neatness in concert dress.
Thedford Silver Band
The Thedford Silver Band started up in 1938 with a meeting at Andy Flynn's barbershop. Twenty four young men signed up. They played at the local bandstand, donated by Eric Coultis. They hosted musical events like tattoos in Thedford.
Sarnia Independent Band
A few Sarnia businessmen who loved playing music began the Sarnia Independent band in 1875. Consisting of fifteen to twenty members, this band included George Storey, Adam Laschinger, Fred Gorman, Charles Wanino, and George Wanino. They bought their own instruments and music and met once a week above the Sarnia firehall. Once they expanded to twenty members, the band began getting invitations to play at dances, skating rinks, and parks. David Barr was the band's first conductor. Then Michael Flemming took over. Michael, the manager of the Lambton Loan and Investment Company, also donated money to the band and encouraged other businesses to donate as well. Those donations helped the band flourish.
In 1879, Arthur Clappé, previously bandmaster of the Governor General's bodyguard, became the band's bandmaster. He was the organist at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Under his direction, the band's reputation grew. The band went to various competition and was recognized as "the third best band in the dominion".
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