October 2010 - Nr. 10
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Oktoberfest
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On the next weekend, the 18th
of September the Hansa Club in Brampton opened its doors for an
Oktoberfest.  Here the big Harmony Brass Show Band was playing
with all members in attendance, also something that does not
happen often. But on this occasion they felt the need to be
together, because their Kapellmeister David William Gurnett had
just passed away, only 43 years old, and all the bands members
were a bit in shock over his sudden demise.
 A few appropriate
words, also by the club’s President, Reiner Walter, and a
request for a respectful minute of silence to remember him by
helped our community to honour his contributions to our
heritage. The rest of the evening was of course wonderfully
cheerful. Fortified by a huge portion of Eisbein with potato
salad and Sauerkraut fed both my husband and myself and still
the leftovers were so big that we took them
 home for the
Raccoons to enjoy, and they did, bone and all. They did not
leave a morsel.
The dance floor was constantly filled with people that use this form of movement as their favorite exercise.
The Weiss-Blau Bayern dance group performed in their lovely dirndls and we also heard the cowbells played Carmen.
The performances are getting more expert all the time, if that is still possible. I noticed that the tempi of the musical offerings are faster than in years gone by.
  Gretel Schauer sang an amazing Jodler. She too is getting better and better and the people can hardly
get enough of her fantastic voice.The Harmony Brass show band got together with the dance group in leading the revelers in a Polonaise, which always makes for real community feeling and hardly leaves anyone sitting.
Of course there was a tombola with fabulous gift baskets to be won; and I did not win anything again.
 Ah, well, I am lucky in
love. I also consider myself fortunate to have met up again with
Eva and Fred Salb, who were founders of the Harmony Brass Show
Band when they were all young and beautiful. (Now of course we
are all only beautiful) To them and the band go our thanks for
decades of great entertainment. David will not so soon be
forgotten.Until next time Sybille Forster-Rentmeister |
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Sybille reports as a German-Canadian about culture, arts,
entertainment, community events from her unique perspective as an artist.
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