From a treasured musical heirloom that has been passed down the generations to an unforgettable concert that changed our lives; music enriches our community. The Community Storytellers exhibit presents community members’ musical artifacts and memories in their own words; they are the storytellers.
“I am honoured and privileged to be a part of the dynamic and evolving tapestry of the Alberta music scene. I have loved lending my voice over the past two decades to fiercely representing women of colour in the music of this province and telling our story. I am proud of what I have accomplished thus far, and am in awe of the depth of talent that is rising up behind me.”
— Lynn Olagundoye, Calgary
-
"OUR COMMON CURRENCY" GORD DOWNIE ARTWORK -- A portrait in Canadian mint
“OUR COMMON CURRENCY”, 2020
PORTRAIT OF GORD DOWNIE OF THE TRAGICALLY HIP
MADE BY & ON LOAN FROM LUKE CARRUTHERS | AIRDRIE, ALBERTA“Our Common Currency” is a 5x8 foot portrait of Gord Downie, musician, poet, activist, and most commonly known as the lead singer of The Tragically Hip...(Read more)
-
BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE PHOTOGRAPH -- Capturing the incomparable artist up close
PHOTO OF BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE, 1997
MADE BY & ON LOAN FROM ZOLTAN VARADI | CALGARY, ALBERTA
This was taken in the building that housed FFWD on 17th Avenue SW...(Read more) -
54-40 DRUM SKIN -- A gift from Canada's great alt-rockers
54-40 SNARE DRUM SKIN
WEATHER KING EMPEROR BATTER
MADE BY REMO | USA
ON LOAN FROM JULIE C. VINCENT AND FAMILY | CALGARY, ALBERTAThis drum skin came from Matt Johnson’s snare drum at the end of a performance in Calgary in 1998 on 54-40’s Since When tour...(Read more)
-
MEGATUNES MUSIC CCMA AWARD -- Honouring a beloved local music shop
MEGATUNES MUSIC CCMA AWARD, 2004
RECORD STORE OF THE YEAR
MADE BY CROSSROADS PROMOTIONS | ONTARIO, CANADA
DONATED BY JONI PLEAU | CALGARY, ALBERTAMegatunes [record store] opened the doors of its original location on Calgary’s iconic Uptown 17th Avenue strip in 1988...(Read more)
-
1904 GUITAR ZITHER -- An heirloom older than Alberta
GUITAR ZITHER, 1904
ST. LOUIS SPECIAL MODEL (COMMEMORATING 1904 WORLD FAIR)
MADE BY MENZENHAUER & SCHMIDT | GERMANY-USA
ON LOAN FROM BARBARA DICKSON AND KAREN MARTEL, DESCENDANTS OF THE SEAMAN FAMILY | CALGARY, ALBERTAThis instrument was purchased by my great grandparents, Wilmer Lewellyn and Arvilla Ann Seaman as a gift for their oldest daughter, Violet, who was born in 1897 in Kalispell, Montana and died in Vulcan in February 1909 at the age of 12...(Read more)
-
SMITH CORONA MUSICWRITER TYPEWRITER -- A tool for the musically-inclined
MUSIC TYPEWRITER, 1962
MUSICWRITER
MADE BY SMITH CORONA | USA
ON LOAN FROM BING HAN | CALGARY, ALBERTAThe Musicwriter is a typewriter that is used to print music. Invented in 1955 by Cecil Effinger, it was designed to be ‘as easy for a musician to use as a standard typewriter is for a novelist...(Read more)
-
BUCKSHOT’S GUITAR -- One of the entertainer's trusty sidekicks
BUCKSHOT'S GUITAR
MADE BY SUPREMA | CANADA
ON LOAN FROM RON BARGE | CALGARY, ALBERTAI was born 9 months after the Buck Shot Show started in 1967, so I never knew my dad (“Buck Shot”) as anyone else...(Read more)
-
“100 YEARS STRONG” 45 RECORD -- The writing of a song for Calgary
"100 YEARS STRONG" 45 RECORD, 1975
WRITTEN BY GORDON MOFFATT, LOUISE MOFFATT, ROBERT MOFFATT
PUBLISHED BY SIDE HILL GOUGER PUBLISHING BMI | CANADA
ON LOAN FROM ROBERT MOFFATT | CALGARY, ALBERTAIt’s a family affair. I wrote “One Hundred Years Strong” with my brother Gord and my wife Louise around the kitchen table in 1994...(Read more)
“When I came to Alberta in the 60’s there was country music everywhere, every day. The atmosphere was exceptional; comfortable, friendly, like family. If one was a performer all they needed was a fiddle or guitar and they were quickly incorporated into the gathering, and that influenced me to stay.”
— Don E. Scott, Edmonton
National Music Centre invites you to share your story in Community Storytellers
How to get involved:
Do you have a music-related item with an interesting story that you'd like us to display?
Do you have a musical memory that you can't wait to share?
Email exhibitions@nmc.ca and tell us about it!
Thank You
With great appreciation
to the community members and artists who have shared their objects and stories in the exhibition
Design and Development
Chris Pecora