Picañol also made a contribution in a musical sense: 1947 saw the inauguration of the Picañol Brass Band. A few musically talented staff members joined forces and founded a music company, with the initial intention of playing at company parties. Under the inspiring leadership of Chairman Maurits Quaghebeur and co-founder (and saxophonist) Daniel Debrouwer, and with Etienne Ossieur as conductor, the band took their first trip – by tram – to Zillebeke. And it was there, in the gardens of Jaime Picañol’s castle close to the Zandberg, that they delivered a serenade to their Honorary President, a role that would be assumed by Bernard Steverlynck in the following year. By 1949, the musicians of the Brass Band were playing in their own band uniform. From its early establishment the Brass Band participated in the annual Sint-Eloois fest and the St. Cecilia fest. The first cross-border performance took place in 1951, when a bus convoy transported the band to the ITMA exhibition in Lille. Every year the band would make several trips to celebrate large weaving machine orders, such as to Almelo in the Netherlands. The Picañol band has made an important contribution to recreation, both in and (far) outside the Westhoek. (picture: the brass band in 1947)
No comments:
Post a Comment