Music Before the Money

The decisive moment in my novel Beneath the Plains of Abraham where the characters begin down the road to conflict is a referendum in Quebec on making the province a separate nation from Canada. My fictional referendum is the 3rd and final one in the story. But how did the first two turn out?

In 1976 popular Quebecker René Lévesque became the first separatist premier in Canadian history. His party platform was to make Quebec a country.

In 1980, knowing that he could not unilaterally rip the province from Canada, he designed a referendum based on asking the people to allow the government to proceed with negotiations on separation with the government of Canada. The result of the vote was 40% in favor and 60% opposed with an 86% turnout. Lévesque conceded defeat in the referendum, but he vowed to try it again: À la prochaine fois! (until next time). However his party was defeated in the next election.

After two failed attempts at bringing Quebec into the Canadian constitution both in 1987 and 1993 the people of Quebec brought back the Parti Québécois, the party of Lévesque, under Jacques Parizeau. Aided by a very popular federal leader, Lucien Bouchard, the province was subjected to another referendum and came within 2% of achieving a path to separation.

In Beneath the Plains of Abraham another charismatic personage takes the people of Quebec into a referendum.

The title of this post may shock you but, in essence, it is very correct. In fact I could include family and friends in this as well. Because being selfish around them can sometimes have an opposite, but good, effect on both you and those around you.Let me first say that “getting what you want” is part of my selfish pitch but not necessarily a selfish endeavour.

Years ago in elementary school we had film breaks once a week with subjects such as proper etiquette and how to survive a nuclear blast (no kidding!) One of these films was about being nice to people and was called: Be Selfish for Others. In this flick the guys wore suits and fedoras and the woman wore long dresses and pearl necklaces like June Cleaver, Beaver’s mom.

The gist of it was that being nice to people brought good things to you - which is true. Getting what you want is not really self-centered because it trickles down to your friends and family. It’s like the airplane safety check: If the aircraft loses oxygen and the masks drop, does a mother put the mask on her child first? No, she puts it on herself because if she she faints from lack of oxygen while trying to get the mask on her child they both will not get the benefits and maybe die.

I’m not saying that you have to act like a spoiled brat but putting your dreams at the forefront clears the way for you to assist others and be a good friend. Because as a friend once advise me, “You’re no good to anyone else if you haven’t cured yourself.

So be selfish. Get what you want. Just don’t forget from whence you came.

In 1981 I trade my Wurlitzer electronic piano for a Kustom 88, an 88-key analogue piano built by the Kustom amplifier and organ company out of Chanute, Kansas. It featured a Baldwin hammers with a control panel containing volume, bass and treble control as well as a vibrato with a speed and depth control.

The Kustom 88 came in its own road case that, when opened up, the lid became the stand with two support legs included that all went together with large hand screws. It was two person job setting it up but was more portable and road worthy than the Yamaha Electric Grand I bought later. And it never needed tuning. The top of the piano was a large flat surface and was perfect for stacking other keyboards like my Crumar Performer and my Korg MS-20.

Picture compliments of Broadway Music Co

It had a decent piano mid-range but the bass is Rhodes-ish and the top is tinny. However, unlike other electronic pianos of the time the touch was controlled by - what looked like - pen-springs which gave the volume of the individual keys and expression.

I trade it on another Wurlitzer. Go figure.