National Music Centre

I’ve heard quite a lot about the tours at the NMC, formerly known as Cantos. I can’t recall the reasons why I’ve eluded it’s first Thursday tours or made the effort to come down on my own. But eventually when I go the chance to organize a filling Station Hot Dates writing event, NMC seemed to be the tour that would provide so much inspiration.
Brandon gleefully met us at the foyer and chatted a bunch of introverted writers, who didn’t have a clue what they were in for. Prior to the tour I contacted him and he was quite open to giving our group a private tour and gave us a VERY reasonable price: $ 10 per person with a minimum of 1 person (5 or less costs $ 15).
Brandon gave an AMAZING tour. I didn’t expect for him to put so much life into the instruments exhibited at the center but he tried to play most of them. What was even cooler was that he played songs appropriate to the time the instruments were made.
I couldn’t decide which was my fav section of the tour. I have a soft spot for synthesizer rock, but even a softer spot for kitschy vaudeville vintage. I think I’ll go with the massive theater organ that came along with it’s own drums and bird whistle. Take the tour and find out about it’s previous owner!

This place is so neat! My only time viewing the museum space was part of a guided tour with Jim Magas and Nate Young during 2012 Sled Island.
I can’t even get over the collection they have, from the orchestra organ that runs along an entire wall, to the synth that Pink Floyd used to record Dark Side of the Moon. If it has keys, they have it!
The best part is that this museum is hands on!
Plink and plonk away on any set of keys, unless there is a sign telling you not to because it is the only one in the world. I can respect that.
The staff is extremely knowledgeable, I will definitely be coming back to spend a longer time wandering the space.

Cantos Music Foundation is actually kind of the coolest ever. While I haven’t been on one of its tours yet, I recently got to experience Cantos for a show on a Tuesday night. I went to go and see the gorgeous band, The Once, from Newfoundland, which I believe was put on by Calgary Folk Festival.
I was running late, and was really rushing to get to this show on time as I didn’t want to miss a thing. I stalked this band all throughout the Canmore Folk Fest this summer and couldn’t wait to watch them again!
When I arrived at Cantos, I was taken aback by the relaxed and intimate setting of everything. I checked with with the ladies as a ticket was waiting for me. There were about four or five rows of chairs set up facing the stage, enough for all the ticket holders– that was it. It was perfect.
The show started on time, and The Once was the only band playing. They had this incredible, humble command over the room, and everything became very still and beautiful. They played half their set, took an intermission, and played the remainder of their set. It ran incredibly smoothly, and the sound was amazing for this kind of folksy band.
The setting was so intimate, that after the show, Geraldine, Phil, and Andrew simply stepped off the stage and were immersed in the crowd. Upon purchasing their newest album, my friend and I were able to chat with them for a good while following the show and it was really nice and friendly. I couldn’t see this happening so neatly at any other venue in Calgary. Therefore, Cantos is now one of my favourites, next to Knox.
Anyone wanna check out a tour of Cantos with me sometime soon?! :)
PS. Here’s a video of The Once singing an accapella Leonard Cohen cover. Swoooon! Don’t like them toooo much though, or else next time I see them it might have to be a larger setting than at Cantos. Bummer!

Keyboards, pianos, harpsichords… oh my! Have you been on a tour of Cantos yet? If you haven’t, this is something you’ve got to see. It was a stop on last Thursday’s artWalk with Art.
Over 200 instruments are in this location and most are keyboard-​based. From the earliest pianos to more recent keyboards and synthesizers, the music lover in me was captivated, and the engineer in a couple of other tour-​goers seemed to be enthralled as well.
The tour itself was well orchestrated, our tour guide incredibly knowledgeable about each of the instruments she showed us, and equally as talented in her demonstrations of some of them!
For the life of me I cannot remember the names of the instruments (guess I’ll just have to go back), but my favourite ones were the one-​man band/​organ and the instrument that played solely based on radio frequencies. The organ bit took up almost an entire room and used to be housed in theatres from days of yore when music was played live during a motion picture. The organ player could control a multitude of instruments from strings to percussion from one place. A more detailed description of it wouldn’t even begin to do it justice. But experiencing it first-​hand sure would! The radio frequency thing was extraordinary! You can control the volume with one hand and the tone and pitch with the other as the waves react with your own natural frequencies (forgive me for not having a more technical explanation). Again, can’t really do that one justice.
Did I mention Elton John’s first piano is also in the collection?
At any rate, the tour has convinced me to explore more of Cantos. It was 100% brilliant. Time for a concert :).

The Cantos Music Foundation is a gem for music lovers and music history aficionados. Located close to downtown Calgary, it’s something I can honestly say I never knew existed, if not for a First Thursday Art Walk where it was one of the stops on the tour.
Cantos bills itself as «a national catalyst for discovery, innovation and renewal through music.» They have one of the most impressive musical instrument collections in the country, plus a fantastic event space and musical educational program. They now own the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame collection that’s on display at Stampede Park, and are currently working on converting the old King Eddy Hotel into the brand new National Music Centre.
I’ve only ever done the public tour, which is offered every Sunday at 1:30 or 3 p.m. and every Thursday at 6 p.m.:
On the public tour, you get to see, learn about, and even play some of the instruments from their collection. If you’re a piano or keyboard lover, this is the closest thing to heaven you’ll ever experience. There are harpsichords from the 1800’s on display, pianos from every era, a massive organ that has to be heard to be believed, as well as a piano formally owned by Elton John. The best part is that most of the instruments are playable by the public! I keep meaning to go back one day, brush up on my piano, and play the theme to Phantom of the Opera and the Linus and Lucy theme from Charlie Brown on one (or more) of the keyboards.
They also have concerts and special events here every once in a while, and while I’ve yet to sample some of that, it’s on my bucket list.
Cantos has a soft spot in my heart ever since I discovered it a few months ago, and I’m always looking for an excuse to go back and visit. The Foundation does so much work in the community, and the programs and events they offer at their facility are just as varied. Definitely worth a visit!