by Paul Shore
During the first decade of the twentieth century Brandon, capsule Manitoba was rising from the prairies to become the city we recognize today. The new and locally produced movie “Wheat City: 1900s, and Making Modern Brandon” is part of the MTS Stories from Home series and is directed by historian Tom Mitchell. In it Mitchell explores the essence of Edwardian Brandon, and utilizes the talents of Brandon University Professor Kenneth Nichols, who has written the soundtrack for the film. Dance hall numbers, Ukrainian folk melodies and popular songs of day are presented in a tribute to a definitive period of Brandon’s history. Prof. Nichols’ work will be familiar to concert goers: his musical arrangement of Ezra Pound’s “A River Merchant’s Wife”: A Letter for low voice, flute and piano graced the 2014 Clear Lake Music Festival.