Finding time in Howard Cable’s schedule of composing, arranging and guest conducting to slot in an afternoon with TYWO was no mean feat – but we’re so glad he came to visit!

An icon in the music world in Canada and abroad, Howard Cable’s career spans generations of musicians who have played his compositions, dancers who have romanced to the sound of his bands and audiences who have marvelled at his arrangements. In all, he has composed and conducted over a thousand radio dramas and variety shows for CBC alone, dating back to the happy days when they were performed by a live studio orchestra. He was the Executive Director of on-site entertainment at Expo ’67. Howard continues to direct symphony orchestras, bands and choirs across Canada.

Interspersed with anecdotes of his musical life, Howard put the TYWO musicians through their paces in their interpretation of his work originally entitled “Newfoundland Rhapsody”, which was expanded and reprinted by popular demand, re-emerging in the print music catalogues as “Banks of Newfoundland”. Explaining his gathering of the folk songs (those visits to the bars to hear the locals singing were all part of the research!) gave the musicians a first-hand account of the concept behind each dynamic; each musical event. At the end of the session, the Maestro took time to chat with some of his new-found friends, some of whom he had already befriended on Facebook and Twitter and there was a line-up for a photo opp! Naturally, it wasn’t long before news of our very special guest found its way on to fb, much to the chagrin of some very envious TYWO alumni – and lo and behold, the next morning came a post from the Maestro himself, enjoying his morning coffee out of his TYWO coffee mug!

Thank you, Maestro Cable for sharing your gift of music with our oh-so-happy-to-meet-you musicians!