Howard Cable
Encyclopedia
Howard Reid Cable is a conductor, arranger
, music director
, composer
, and radio
and television producer
.
in conducting and bandmastership 1939. He is also a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts
(DFA) degree from the University of Lethbridge
in 2002. Cable studied piano, clarinet, and oboe, and played in the Parkdale Collegiate Institute orchestra under Leslie Bell. While leading a dance band, the Cavaliers, 1935-41 in Toronto and at southern Ontario summer resorts, he studied at the Toronto Conservatory of Music with Sir Ernest MacMillan
, Ettore Mazzoleni
, and Healey Willan
. He also studied with John Weinzweig
in 1945.
Cable composed and arranged the original theme for the Hockey Night in Canada
television broadcast, The Saturday Game which opened the broadcast from 1952 until 1968. His arrangement of Dolores Claman
's "The Hockey Theme
", which replaced his own composition in 1968, is the standard version, has been called "Canada's Second National Anthem". His Royal Conservatory arrangement of "The Hockey Theme" for piano is one of the best selling pieces of sheet music in Canada.
Cable was conductor for the early CBC TV variety programs General Electric Showtime and Mr. Show Business. In addition he conducted and arranged music for various CBC radio and TV programs in the 1960s. From 1971 to 1985 he was host of the program Howard Cable Presents heard on St. Catharines radio station "CHRE-fm
", and for most of the years it was the station's highest rated program.
One of Cable's notable compositions is his march "The Ten Provinces". This piece contains the melodies of ten provincial songs including but not limited to: The Maple Leaf Forever, Alberta Bound, Farewell To Nova Scotia and Bonhomme, Bonhomme. This march is performed everyday during the summer months on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the moment the drum major of the Canadian Forces' Band of the Ceremonial Guard steps onto the Hill.
Cable is still active as a guest conductor of symphony orchestras across Canada; his concerts usually featuring a refreshing mix of light classical, pop, big band swing and show tunes.
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, music director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
.
Biography
Howard Cable received an Associate diploma (ATCM) from The Royal Conservatory of Music in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in conducting and bandmastership 1939. He is also a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts
Doctor of Fine Arts
Doctor of Fine Arts is doctoral degree in fine arts, typically given as an honorary degree . The degree is typically conferred to honor the recipient who has made a contribution to society in the arts...
(DFA) degree from the University of Lethbridge
University of Lethbridge
The University of Lethbridge is a publicly-funded comprehensive academic and research university, founded in the liberal education tradition, located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with two other urban campuses in Calgary and Edmonton. The main building sits among the coulees on the west side of...
in 2002. Cable studied piano, clarinet, and oboe, and played in the Parkdale Collegiate Institute orchestra under Leslie Bell. While leading a dance band, the Cavaliers, 1935-41 in Toronto and at southern Ontario summer resorts, he studied at the Toronto Conservatory of Music with Sir Ernest MacMillan
Ernest MacMillan
Sir Ernest Alexander Campbell MacMillan, CC was an internationally renowned Canadian orchestral conductor and composer, and Canada's only "Musical Knight". He is widely regarded as being Canada's pre-eminent musician, from the 1920s through the 1950s...
, Ettore Mazzoleni
Ettore Mazzoleni
Ettore Mazzoleni was a Canadian conductor, music educator, writer, and arts administrator of Swiss birth. He was one of the Canadian Opera Company's principal conductors during its early years, working there from 1958-1968...
, and Healey Willan
Healey Willan
Healey Willan, was an Anglo-Canadian organist and composer. He composed more than 800 works including operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, and pieces for band, orchestra, organ, and piano...
. He also studied with John Weinzweig
John Weinzweig
John Weinzweig, OC, O.Ont was a Canadian composer of classical music.Born in Toronto, Weinzweig went to Harbord Collegiate Institute, and studied music at the university. In 1937, he left for the United States to study under Bernard Rogers...
in 1945.
Cable composed and arranged the original theme for the Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
television broadcast, The Saturday Game which opened the broadcast from 1952 until 1968. His arrangement of Dolores Claman
Dolores Claman
Dolores Claman is a Canadian composer and pianist. She is best known for composing the theme song, known simply as The Hockey Theme, for Hockey Night in Canada, a song often regarded as Canada's second national anthem, which she composed in 1968, and for "A Place to Stand", the popular tune that...
's "The Hockey Theme
The Hockey Theme
"The Hockey Theme" is a Canadian theme song written in 1968 by Dolores Claman and orchestrated by Jerry Toth. It has been referred to as Canada's second national anthem....
", which replaced his own composition in 1968, is the standard version, has been called "Canada's Second National Anthem". His Royal Conservatory arrangement of "The Hockey Theme" for piano is one of the best selling pieces of sheet music in Canada.
Cable was conductor for the early CBC TV variety programs General Electric Showtime and Mr. Show Business. In addition he conducted and arranged music for various CBC radio and TV programs in the 1960s. From 1971 to 1985 he was host of the program Howard Cable Presents heard on St. Catharines radio station "CHRE-fm
CHRE-FM
CHRE-FM is a radio station in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Airing at 105.7 FM, the station broadcasts an adult contemporary format for the Niagara region, especially for Buffalo, New York with the brand name 105.7 EZ Rock...
", and for most of the years it was the station's highest rated program.
One of Cable's notable compositions is his march "The Ten Provinces". This piece contains the melodies of ten provincial songs including but not limited to: The Maple Leaf Forever, Alberta Bound, Farewell To Nova Scotia and Bonhomme, Bonhomme. This march is performed everyday during the summer months on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the moment the drum major of the Canadian Forces' Band of the Ceremonial Guard steps onto the Hill.
Cable is still active as a guest conductor of symphony orchestras across Canada; his concerts usually featuring a refreshing mix of light classical, pop, big band swing and show tunes.
Wind Ensemble/Concert Band
- Newfoundland Rhapsody (1956)
- Quebec Folk Fantasy (1953)
- Snake Fence Country (1954)
- Good Medicine (2005)
External links
- Howard Cable profile for University of Lethbridge Music Department