Killarney Carnivale Concert Band - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1281978

Premiered June 6th, 2023 by the Killarney Senior Wind Ensemble and Alumni directed by Meagan Lawson, 'Killarney Carnivale' is a programmatic piece describing a small town carnival in rural Manitoba in the early 1930's, spotlighting the family of the town dentist, Dr. Martin McLaren, his wife Irene, and their six girls.

'Killarney Carnivale' describes a fictitious event, but the family is that of the composer, John Hudson. His mother, (second in a family of six girls), as a young teen in Killarney Manitoba, loved playing piano and aspired to be a concert pianist playing her favourite composers in concert halls. Her dreams took a different turn when the family had to move west for Dr. McLaren's health, but she carried with her the melodies she composed and later played to her own children.

Picture John Hudson listening to hours of his mother playing piano as a young boy in the early 1950's, immersed in his mother's beautiful music. After her passing in 2010, he longed to hear these beautiful, playful melodies again. His sister Jane Keyes had become a professional piano player and happily took up the task of recreating several of their mother's pieces, which John, now a retired band director, began to transcribe. Inspired by a photograph of the family that very much looked like a carnival booth style photograph, 'Killarney Carnivale' came to life.

It opens as the youngest, probably under age two at the time, wakes up. The scene swiftly changes to arrival at the much - anticipated carnival, with all of its magical sights, sounds and heavenly smells of popcorn and treats. First is the carousel, with wooden horses flying about in endless circles with children regaling with laughter.

The next is a sideshow tent featuring the exotic dancer Salome, who wiled King Herod, (and probably more than a few in the audience) as her thin, tantalizing veils hinted at her charms.

The next tent is dim and displays the wierd and mysterious curiosities from around the world like bearded ladies, dwarfs and the like.

The cakewalk is next, with children vying to be the last person sitting as chairs are removed and the music abruptly stops each time. (This section could host a real cakewalk with a few chairs and willing audience participation. Three chairs is suggested.)

Finally, the exhausted family drives home in their antique (to us) automobile with the childrens' hair flying in the breeze.
One by one, the excited children fall prey to dreamland, and at long last, the exhausted parents flop into bed too.

Honouring his mother's short pieces has been a life long dream of Mr. Hudson, and to hear them played by the Killarney Wind Ensemble and Alumni Band was a poignant moment: the return of these melodies to the little town where they first came to life.

Many, many thanks to Meagan Lawson, their director, and all of the members of the Killarney band who so very willingly took up the challenge of playing 'Killarney Carnivale'. Their hard work and dedication to this piece is deeply, deeply appreciated.