Howard Cable facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Howard Cable |
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Howard Reid Cable introduces the story behind McIntyre Ranch Country, before conducting it with the Clarington Concert Band at a concert in Oshawa, Ontario.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Howard Reid Cable |
| Born | December 15, 1920 Toronto, Ontario |
| Died | March 30, 2016 (aged 95) |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Conductor, composer |
| Instruments | Piano, clarinet, oboe |
Howard Reid Cable (December 15, 1920 – March 30, 2016) was a famous Canadian musician. He was a talented conductor, who led musical groups, and an arranger, meaning he adapted music for different instruments. He was also a music director, a composer who wrote original music, and a producer for radio and television shows. Howard Cable was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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A Life in Music
Howard Cable loved music from a young age. He learned to play the piano, clarinet, and oboe. He even played in his school orchestra! In 1939, he earned a special diploma in conducting and bandmastership from The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Later, in 2002, he received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree, which is a big award for his achievements in art.
Howard Cable led a dance band called the Cavaliers from 1935 to 1941. While doing this, he also studied music with famous teachers.
Music for Hockey Night in Canada
One of Howard Cable's most famous contributions was to Canadian television. He composed and arranged the original theme song for the popular show Hockey Night in Canada. This song, called Saturday's Game, was played at the start of the broadcast from 1952 to 1968.
He also arranged the well-known The Hockey Theme by Dolores Claman. This version was used on the show from 1968 until the mid-2000s. It became one of the best-selling pieces of sheet music in Canada!
Radio and TV Work
Howard Cable was a conductor for early CBC TV shows like General Electric Showtime. He also arranged and conducted music for many CBC radio and TV programs in the 1960s. From 1971 to 1985, he hosted his own radio show called Howard Cable Presents on the station "CHRE-fm". This show was very popular and often had the highest ratings for the station.
Howard Cable also worked closely with the famous brass group, Canadian Brass. Their many recordings and radio appearances helped him become known around the world.
Special Recognition
In 1999, Howard Cable was made a Member of the Order of Canada. This is a very high honor given to people who have made a big difference to Canada. He received this award for his "legendary contribution to the Canadian music industry."
Musical Works
Howard Cable wrote many different kinds of musical pieces. He composed music for various groups and instruments.
For Brass Instruments
He wrote many pieces for groups of brass instruments, like the Brass Quintet (which usually has two trumpets, a horn, a trombone, and a tuba). Some of his works for brass include:
- Maple Leaf Rag
- McIntyre Ranch Country
- Newfoundland Rhapsody
- La Virgen de la Macarena
He also wrote for larger Brass Ensembles, which have more brass players.
For Choir
Howard Cable also composed music for choirs, which are groups of singers. He wrote pieces like:
- Anne of Green Gables
- Up on a Rooftop
For Wind Ensemble and Concert Band
He created many pieces for Wind Ensembles and Concert Bands. These groups feature woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. Some of his notable works for these groups include:
- Newfoundland Rhapsody (1956)
- Quebec Folk Fantasy (1953)
- Ontario Pictures (1986)
- McIntyre Ranch Country (2002)
- Saskatchewan Overture (2007)
For Marching Band
Howard Cable even arranged music for Marching Bands. One of his well-known arrangements is the 10 Provinces March, which uses different folk tunes.
