Page 35 - RSCDS Toronto Golden Jubilee Book

Music Makers
Stan Hamilton, piano – Ian Powrie, violin
"I was her fair-haired, blue-eyed boy," said Stan. "She always asked me to play when she was teaching or adjudicating in Canada."
Musicians Stan admired included Ian Powrie (with whom he recorded an album), Angus Fitchet, Jim McLeod, and legendary fiddler/composer, Neil Gow.
When asked what was his most memo- rable performance, Stan said, "All of them!" but proceeded to describe one Hamilton Branch Weekend. "I put the lid up on the piano and started to play. Every time I hit a note, water came spraying out. It was like playing in a rainstorm." There had been a boister- ous party the night before and some miscreants had dumped the piano into the pool! Stan played on regardless.
As this book was going to press,
sadly, James Stanley Hamilton died, September 4, 2007. His was a life of contribution and sharing the joy of music and dance. During the interview for this article, his lovely, gentle wife Ann quoted a favourite poem, The Eve of Waterloo, by Lord Byron, that poi- gnantly captures the spirit of the dance and the fragility of life.
There was a sound of revelry by night,
And Belgium’s Capital had gathered then
Her Beauty and her Chivalry, and bright
The lamps shone o’er fair women and brave men;
A thousand hearts beat happily; and when
Music arose with its voluptuous swell,
Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again,
And all went merry as a marriage bell;
But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell!
Alex and Ruth Jappy Alex Jappy was born in Buckie, in the northeast of Scotland, and came from a very musical family. He played the pump organ to accompany singing, then started to play the accordion at age sixteen. While living in Aberdeen, he played for Scottish Country Dancing, as well as Old Time. He emigrated to Canada in 1952.
While living in Toronto in 1960, Alex had a chance meeting with Bob Smith of Toronto, who was actively involved in the SC Dance scene at that time.
Bob told Alex of the newly forming Scarborough Group and introduced
him to Tom Cunningham, who was
the teacher of the group. Alex started playing for the group the first night it opened and, along with his wife, Ruth, continued to have a wonderful relation- ship with the Scarborough Group until moving to Vancouver in 1978.
During those years, Iain Macfarlane of the Calvin Group asked Alex to play for them, which he did for several years. During this same time frame (1960s and 1970s), Ed Brydie was playing classes for the Toronto Branch. He put Alex’s name forward to the Branch, and soon Alex was playing two classes for them on a Thursday evening.
Also during this time, Alex met Angus MacKinnon, who wanted to start a band of his own, and he asked Alex
to play with him. This took Alex to an even busier schedule of playing, but enjoying every minute of it. Ed Brydie was actively playing with his own band during this same time and he asked Alex to play with him. As well as Scottish Country Dancing, they played regularly for Old Time Dancing – Sons of Scotland/Cairngorm Club, etc.
Donald Bartlett came on the scene, first as a dancer, then as a musician. Donald
and Alex played for Scarborough, then Donald started his own band, and Alex played lead for Donald and continued with him until moving in 1978. They played on many occasions for the Gala Days, Branch Class parties, visiting teachers, etc.
These were wonderful years playing and dancing in Toronto and all the sur- rounding areas.
I became very involved in all the activi- ties, and served on the Toronto Branch Committee for several years doing vari- ous jobs. I especially remember how, in the first year, there were 650 dancers at the Tartan Ball and my job was the seating arrangements. I was terrified of making a mistake and having someone end up without a seat. Of course, that did not happen.
Alex and I feel very happy to have been involved during those years and we still have many wonderful friends that we made during those times.
With Fond Memories
. . . Alex & Ruth Jappy
Angus MacKinnon
. . . As told by Don Bartlett
Alex Jappy introduced me to Angus MacKinnon, who had a band called the Scots-Canadians, one of the three lead- ing bands in Toronto in the 1960's. A year or two later, Angus’s pianist had a heart attack while playing a Hamilton monthly dance. Angus recruited me to replace him. I was still in high school.
Angus bought us all cummerbunds to wear as a band uniform. He handed one to the drummer as he entered the hall. By the time the drummer got to the stage the cummerbund was miss- ing. We never found it. All of us, except Angus, were grateful.
We played once in Edwards Gardens
on a night so humid that we received severe electric shocks from our equip- ment even though we were on a wood- en platform. We couldn’t even put our hands close to the equipment!
Once we played a modern (not Scottish Country) dance on the evening of
the fall time change. The organizers wanted us to keep playing, arguing that, because of the time change, we had to play an extra hour. Angus put
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