22 Artscene Sign up now for guitar, bass, drums, and piano OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE · WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2009 Intrada Brass celebrating best of American, Canadian music By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Relations between Canada and the United States have warmed since the election of President Barack Obama and to celebrate, Intrada Brass is holding a concert called Between Friends this weekend. The Sunday afternoon event will feature a program of American and Canadian music, performed by Oakville's elite 30-member brass ensemble. "The U.S., in particular, has a very strong band tradition, so what we've done is taken a few U.S. band pieces and transcribed them for brass band and they haven't been done before here, so we're looking forward to doing that," said Kevin Norbury, associate conductor. "Canada also has a fairly good band tradition, and we've found some pieces based on folk songs, so it will be very tuneful and listenable." Several of Norbury's own compositions and arrangements will be on the program, such as Badinage. The original work will feature Intrada's principal tuba player, Rob Brown. This is the first time the group has performed the work. "(Brown) is a fabulous player and I think it is going to be an very enjoyable item because the tuba is an unusual solo instrument," said Norbury. "It is an extremely technical piece. I think it will really appeal to the audience." Another featured Norbury composition is the concert march, Glorious and Free, written in celebration of Canada. It incorporates O Canada and fragments of The Ode to Newfoundland and The Nova Scotia Song. His transcription of Hollywood composer SUBMITTED PHOTO BETWEEN FRIENDS: Intrada Brass, under the baton of Kevin Norbury, rehearse for their upcoming concert, Between Friends. John Williams' arrangement of The StarSpangled Banner, made for the 2004 Rose Bowl, is an additional musical treat on the program. "This is a spectacular arrangement and is a big piece," Norbury said. Canada's wealth of folk songs will be highlighted in Morley Calvert's Canadian Folksong Suite. The work is a favourite with bands around the world. "I think the audience will enjoy the Canadian Folksong Suite very much and that is one of the Canadian band classics by Morley Calvert, who is a very highly respected Canadian band composer," said Norbury. The concert will appeal to music lovers of all ages, according to Norbury. One particular piece youths and those young at heart will likely enjoy is Cartoon Classics, a medley of cartoon themes ranging from Looney Tunes, through The Pink Panther to The Simpsons. "I've got a lot of my kids coming from school," said Norbury, who is the head of music at King's Christian Collegiate in Oakville. "I chose the pieces so that it is fun for the listeners, but also challenging for the players." This will be the last concert for the group at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. Lagging ticket sales and high rental costs have resulted in the group deciding to move to a different venue. See Band page 23