Email:

eflatmajor@lonewolfcafe.net

On November the 3rd,

We will be having a Memorial

To celebrate his life.

It is the day after  what would

 have been his 80th birthday.

It is on a Saturday

it will Be informal and all day

if you wish to stop by

(all are welcome)

please send an email

for address and if you wish to attend

so that we can have an idea

of how many people to expect

November 2 1932 - September 9 2012

Born 2 November 1932 – The Hague, The Netherlands. As pianist autodidact. Started playing the piano at age six. Winner of two piano competitions, The Hague, The Netherlands, in 1949 and 1951.

Joined the Canadian Army in 1953 as a band corporal, retired in the rank of major in August 1983.

Was formally engaged as a trumpet player, later changed over to French horn, but was employed primarily in various keyboard capacities.

 Between 1956 and 1959 worked the nightclub circuit in Europe as member of a group specializing in East European folk music, mainly Hungarian, Romanian, and Russian.

Leader of that group was the then well-known Hungarian primas Sarközi Veres Lajos. Rejoined the Canadian Army in January 1959.

Attended bandmasters course at the Royal Military School of Music, Knellerhall, at Twickenham. Middlesex, England, from 1962 until 1965. Graduated with honours, winning seven out of a possible eleven awards, including the Worshipful Company of Musicians Medal, and prices for military band instrumentation, brass band scoring for mixed choir, secondary instruments, etc.

Performed as solo pianist with the Knellerhall Band in works such as Edvard Grileg's piano concerto, Litolff's Scherzo, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, etc.

Acquired Licentiate of Trinity College, London (bandmastership and teaching), Associateship with the Royal College of Music, and Associateship with the London College of music in 1964/65.

Was Director of Music of the Band of the Royal Canadian Dragoons at CFB Gagetown,

the CF Naden Band at CFB Esquimalt, BC, and the CF Stadacona Band in Halifax, NS.

Conducted successful concert tours in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Wrote a number of compositions for band, such as the overture 'Chebucto', and the tone poem 'Huronian Episode', the latter having been commissioned by the Barrie Collegiate Band for performance at the Kerkrade Music Festival in The Netherlands.

Both these compositions were published by Boosey + Hawkes. More recent compositions include 'The Legionnaire' (since June '94 the official march of the Royal Canadian Legion), 'Suite Acadienne', in five movements, and 'Pyat' Russkikh Narodnikh' (Five Russian Folk songs), first performed by the Naden Band of Maritime Command Pacific Vladivostok, USSR, in June 1990. 'Phantasmagorie' for three horns and band and 'Saxologie' for saxophone quartet and band were commissioned by La Musique du R22eR in Québec, 'Noël chez nous' for concert band by the Air Command Band, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and 'Nashwaak Angus', for accordeon or xylophone and band, by the Stadacona Band of Maritime Command.

Most recent compositions are 'Romanesca', three Romanian folk melodies for two accordeons and band, commissioned by the Naden Band, and 'Flemish Folk Song Suite', as well as the 'O'Carolan Suite',

both commissioned by the Royal Canadian Regiment Band.

During latter part of service worked at the Canadian Forces School of Music, Esquimalt, BC, as Training Officer, responsible for the training of young musicians on all instruments of the military band, and as Chief Instructor, involved in the advanced musical training of senior Band Branch personnel.

Is the author of methods on harmony, concert band instrumentation, and aural development training.

Has served as adjudicator for several band competitions in British Columbia, and was invited twice as only out-of-province adjudicator at the prestigious Festival des harmonies du Québec (Québec Band Festival) at Sherbrooke. Québec.

Constructed his own clavichord in 1978, and a harpsichord in 1979, and has given lectures and public performances on those instruments, most recently at the opening of the Gainsborough exhibition at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, and at Callery 78, both in Fredericton, New Brunswick, under the aegis of First Night Celebrations.

Also designed and built several hammered dulcimers, and has given public performances on those instruments as well, a.o. First Night ‘91 and ‘92. Presently resides in Stanley, New Brunswick.

Was featured on the programme 'New Faces', performing on clavichord, harpsichord, and hammered dulcimer, aired by the Atlantic Satellite Network (ASN). He prepared a music sequence for the Nova Scotia Tattoo held in July 1991. devoted considerable time to Celtic folk music, Was involved in concert band composition and arranging.

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