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McIntyre Ranch Country - Howard Cable 2002
Comments by Ralph A. Thrall Jr., Owner and President of McIntyre Ranching Co. Ltd.

In February 2001 Howard Cable came to Lethbridge, Alberta for several days to lead workshops for the University of Lethbridge Wind Ensemble and the Lethbridge Community Gold and Silver Bands. On the evening of the last day of Howard's visit the Wind Ensemble and the Gold Band gave a concert of Cable's music, many of the pieces being conducted by Howard himself. Following the concert at a reception being held for him, I approached Howard, complimented him on his music and then said "damn it Howard, you composed and tonight played music about Newfoundland, Quebec, and Ontario and nothing about Alberta or the west. How come?". To this Cable shot back "because no one has ever asked me to!". Hmmmm.

Prodded by Ken Lewis, our host of that evening, I agreed to commission Cable to do a western piece and Howard agreed to comply. The outcome of all of this is "McIntyre Ranch Country" a collage of several western songs evocative of the old west (which the McIntyre Ranch is a part of) plus Cable's interpretation of a traditional Blackfoot song.

Subsequent to his initial visit, Howard has returned several times to Lethbridge and has taken on additional composing and arranging assignments at my request. It has been a delight and an honor to know and work with him. I am pleased that he has become more than just an acquaintance. He has become a good friend.

About Howard Cable:

Howard Cable has spent a lifetime doing what he loves; writing, arranging, conducting and playing music. Murray Ginsberg says in his book "They Loved to Play" (about great Canadian musicians): "Howard Cable has been the most successful conductor/composer/arranger on the Canadian music scene since the 1940's".

Since his original studies at the Toronto Conservatory of Music, Howard Cable has earned a distinct place in the world of music not only for his timeless musical writings and arrangements, but also for the breadth of his influence and the span of his involvement in the music industry. He conducted the opening pit band for the first Broadway production of Man of La Mancha; worked with Richard Rogers, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Bob Hope, Victor Borge, Danny Kay and Moe Koffman to name only a few. After over 50 years of writing, conducting and arranging Cable continues to conduct bands and symphonies across Canada on a back-breaking schedule that amazes.

Howard has written extensively for the Elmer Iseler Singer, The Toronto Mendelssohn choir, the Toronto Children's Chorus, the true north Brass and the Hannaford Street Silver Band and has arranged some 80 pieces for the Canadian Brass. He also brought us the first radio music for Hockey Night in Canada some 50 years ago and is the man who arranged the version those in Canada know today as the music that introduces Canada's national love every game night. In 2000, Howard Cable was inducted in to the Order of Canada. In 2002 the University of Lethbridge bestowed an Honorary Doctorate upon him for this lifetime of contributions to music.

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