Killarney Guide

A long-ago photo – capturing a family day at the carnival – inspires nostalgic band piece

A special place, laced with beloved childhood melodies, has been ‘stitched’ together to create a very unique musical work.

And this piece of music is set to premier live next week, during Killarney School’s final band concert, says the school’s band director, Meagan Lawson, who is currently on maternity leave. 

Lawson was contacted last year by the composer himself, who was hoping to find the right band to bring his work to life.

“I first received an email through the school from John P.W. Hudson in May of 2022. In the email he sent me a recording, and the score of a band piece, entitled ‘Killarney Carnivale,’ that he had written,” said Lawson. “He went on to explain to me where the piece came from, and offered the piece to me to play, and possibly premiere, if there was a band here in Killarney that would be interested in learning it.” 

John Hudson has been a band educator for 35 years, and upon his retirement he decided to take up composing band repertoire, said Lawson.  

“This piece is particularly special, as it was developed from a series of melodies his mother, Helen Irene McLaren, had written when she was young (around age 12), in Killarney, with her parents and five sisters,” said Lawson. “After their father became ill, they moved out to B.C., where Helen and her eldest sister spent the remainder of their lives.”
  Hudson’s mother was very musical, and played these short melodies to John and his siblings in the 1950s, she said. But they were remembered only by sound, and never put to paper.

“They were never written down, only passed through the generations by ear,” said Lawson. “John’s sister Jane was a big help in remembering these melodies, and the chord structures within them. When he started composing band music, he wanted to create a piece that would stitch these melodies together, and he took inspiration from a photo of his mother’s family, taken at a carnival when his mother was about 12.”

This image shows the six girls, of various ages, with the Carnival in the background, and their parents looking frazzled and exhausted.  

“The piece, ‘Killarney Carnivale,’ describes a full day– from young ones waking, to a ride on a carousel, exploring mysterious objects and faraway places in darkened tents, having a cakewalk, and finally travelling home, to flop one by one into bed,” said Lawson.

Plans to premier the beautiful music moved forward, after Lawson introduced the piece to the school’s senior band members, who adored it. 

And with all the instrumental parts it entailed, the idea was also hatched to include members of the Killarney Alumni Band in the performance.

“Upon receiving the piece from John, I obviously wanted to pursue learning and premiering the piece, but with it being May, it was too late in the school year to learn it,” said Lawson. “I played the recording of the piece to the Senior Band, and they loved it immediately. We thought that because of the extensive instrumentation, it would be a neat experience to perform it along with the Killarney Alumni Band.”  

Unfortunately, John Hudson will miss this amazing premier, as he will be sailing in style – on a special trip with his wife – while the band is tuning up, she added.

“John had really hoped to join us in Killarney for the world premiere of ‘Killarney Carnivale’ on Tuesday, but he is on a cruise with his wife, celebrating their 50th anniversary,” said Lawson. “He has only seen pictures of Killarney, but knows how special a place it was for his mother, and is hoping to come for a visit in the near future.

“We have really enjoyed working on this piece, and collaborating with John through email, Facetime, and Zoom. The senior band was able to Zoom with John in class to hear about the piece, and ask him any questions they had. We are honoured and excited to be premiering ‘Killarney Carnivale’ at the final band concert this year,” she said. 

‘Killarney Carnivale’ will premiere this Tuesday, June 6, at Killarney School. 

Update: Keep scrolling for photos from the June 6 Spring Band Concert below.

REHEARSING FOR THE BIG PREMIERE – Above (right), Killarney School band director Jean Lawson leads the Killarney Senior Band during a rehearsal on Thursday of ‘Killarney Carnivale,’ written by John P.W. Hudson (photo below). They will join together with the Killarney Alumni Band on Tuesday, June 6, for the premiere performance of this work during the final band concert of the school year.

JAY STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE

KILLARNEY CARNIVALE CREATOR – Killarney Carnivale creator John Hudson (right) and his wife Debbie.

KILLARNEY CARNIVALE – Meagan Lawson (left) leads the Killarney School Senior Band and Alumni Band in the premiere performance of Killarney Carnivale on Tuesday evening in school gym. It’s a challenging and fascinating piece of music, written by John Hudson, capturing a family day at the carnival in Killarney.

KOKOMO – Conductor Jean Lawson (left) leads the Mass Band, consisting of Killarney School’s Grade 7/8 Band, Senior Band and Alumni Band, in the playing of the Beach Boys’ Kokomo at Tuesday’s Spring Band Concert. Jean Lawson took on the role of band director at Killarney School this year while her daughter, Meagan Lawson, was away on maternity leave. Jean’s husband, Tim Lawson, conducted the Killarney School Alumni Band in their first piece of the evening, Great Movie Marches (see below). Tim Lawson led the Killarney School Band program for 34 years, from 1977 to 2011, when his daughter Meagan took over.

GREAT MOVIE MARCHES – The Killarney School Alumni Band plays “Great Movie Marches” under the direction of Tim Lawson.

NORTHPOINTE FANTASY – The Grade 7 & 8 Band plays “Northpointe Fantasy,” followed by “Assidium Moon” and “Loki.”

STAND BY ME – T.H.E. (The High-school Experience) performs “Stand By Me,” followed by “Jolene.”

I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND – Killarney crooners ‘The Sopranos’ sing “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” followed by “I Can’t Help Falling in Love.”

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – The Grade 8 Band, with guest percussionists, plays “Mission Impossible.”

AMMERLAND – The Senior Band plays “Ammerland,” followed by “Fantasy on Yankee Doodle.” Band students graduating from Killarney School this year are Carrie-Lynn Kempthorne, Elle Labossiere, and Owen Maurice.