Mild-mannered ecllege employee by day, Doug Cameron is a master sawyer by night RESPLENDENT in tuxedo, concert performer Doug Cameron prepares his bow, makes a few minute adjust- ments, and strikes an open- ing note on his Stradivarius. Should that particular Stradivarius not ring true, he has another; for less scrious occasions he might use a decades-old Mussehl and Westphal, passed on to him by a musical great uncle. Such names suggest musical finery — the instruments less so. Doug Cameron plays the saw. “My closest friends are embar- rassed,”’ confesses Cameron, 39, who last month became the sixth person in the world ever to receive the title of master sawyer. ‘‘Other people range from disbelief to mock interest to utter amazement when they hear the sound quali- ty.’” When Cameron was II years old, the same great uncle whose saw he now plays locked him ina room for two hours, during which time he had to learn to play a scale, He gave his first public perfor- mance at a Duncan, B.C., fall fair — and won a top prize. Today, the moustachioed North Vancouverite works by day in Capilano Col- lege’s financial aid department, slotting in off-hours saw-playing performances at conventions, lounges and variety shows. A musical saw is no mere cutting tool, although Cameron has been known to trim Christmas trees with his. Their tempered steel blades are extremely flexible, and tip can easily bend to touch han- die. Wedging the handle between his legs, Cameron will bend the saw into an s-curve and run his cello bow along the top of the blade. The sound is similar to that of a violin, but higher and not as smooth. Cameron has a different description: “It’s sort of a cross between the wife of Frankenstein and Beverly Sills.” Listeners can make their own comparisions. tn competitions last year in Los A HOST of family entertainment is lined up for this summer's Con- certs by the Sea series every Wed- nesday and Sunday at Ambleside Park and Horseshoe Bay. At Ambleside Park, the Carillon Quartet and the Razematazz Dancers will perferm July 17, Scottish Dancers July 20 and the Angeles and Portland, he swept the top spots. Not expecting to at- tend again this year, he let his practices lapse; he eventually did attend, but missed a second sweep. Competition categories include classical, traditional, pop, jazz and gospel, demonstrating that sawyers are more sophisticated than their instruments stereotypically in- dicate. STEPHEN BARRINGTON feature writer Cameron's rendering of the in- termezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana has been particularly successful in competition, but it is his novelty category performance that really has audiences cheering. A former professional perfor- mer, Cameron combines his acting talents with some classic Cana- diana to become a saw-playing Mountie complete with scenery from the movie Rose Marie. Though proud of his playing skills and the recent Master Sawyer Golden Saw Award, Cameron lear concerts by YMCA Dancers July 24. Ambleside Park showtimes are 7 p.m., and performances last about one hour. As well, the Carillon Quartet and the Razzmatizz Dancers and the YMCA Dancers will be per- forming af 4 p.m. at Horseshoe Bay July 17 and 24, respectively. Performances through the sununer feature Freddy 9 Fudd- pucker and his Roliing Clones, Sisuvus Jazz, the New Rhythm Project and the Anna Wyman Dance Company NEWS photo Cindy Pellamy SAWYER DOUG Cameron — his novelty saw-playing act has won him rave reviews in competition. cannot blame people for not taking sawing seriously. “‘’'m disappointed when people don’t listen or slough it off,’ he says. “But f see they’re justified because it’s basically silly.” First enjoying popularity in the 1920s, saw playing died out after the Second World War, until, recently, when American Jim Leonard started to band together the world’s estimated 1,000 saw- yers. As a musical form, saw playing is evolving to include percussive elements and varied techniques, often compilations or adaptations of other sawyers’ styles and in- novations. Behind a dedication to further- ing the craft is a heartfelt affec- tion, ‘Ht really has a remarkable effect vou play well," says Cameron. “H's a tot of fun, We have a ball.” the sea Free fun for children includes Puppets in the Park running at John Lawson Park July 23 at 10 a.m. and followed at I] a.m. by a create-a-crown session. “This series provides a super opportunity to enhance visibility, awareness and understanding of the arts in our community,”” noted West Vancouver cultural coor- dinator Cathy Matheson, who is overseeing the summer-long pro- gram. For rmaore information on the sixth annual series, cad! 926-3266, 17 ~ Friday, July 15, 1988 — North Shore News COD: ! piece $240 HALIBUT:1 piece $3.25 2 pieces $3.50 2 pieces $5.25 3 pieces $4.40 3 pieces $6.95 Gpak $895 6 pak $13.00 PIZZA MADNESS is still on at the WOODEN PLATE RESTAURANT “the original home of the affordable pizza" 10” only ed 12” only 599 14” ony A? with cheese, sauce and your choice of 3 toppings Open 7 days a week from 5:00 p.m. FREE delivery atter 5:00pm (minimum order $7.00) A STORYTELLING WORKSHOP ROBERT MINDEN — AUGUST 19-21 torytelling is increasingly referred to as one of ihe heal- ing arts. After two decades of watching television. peo- ple are hungry to make their own images. That's the gift of storytelling. It’s really about taking control of images — the storyteller and the listener become connected in a unique. cooperative adventure. articipants in this workshop will have the opportunity to approach storytelling from an autobiographical perspective: drawing stories from personal experience, and from the oral tradition: performance — how to combine story and sound. To work on: bring one story from your own personal experience and one from another source. obert Minden is a professional musician and storyteller and a founding member of the Vancouver Storytelling Circle. His musical storytelling group, The Robert Minden Enseinble, has a busy performance schedule, including a week long stint at the Vancouver Fast Cultural Centre this spring. They will be embarking on a national tour this fall. larn Bay Farm is a 100-acre organic farm rich with crops. meadows, forests and wildlife. a stocked trout pond and 1/2 mile of ocean shoreline set in a peaceful valley on Pender Island. You will enjoy delicious meals cooked with produce from eur gardens, walks on the beach and through the woods, horses, canoeing, hot tub and sauna. A 50% deposit is due two weeks before workshop date. Please contact us soon because space is limited. Tuition. room and board: $190, ther workshops scheduled for Clam Bay Farrn this sum- mer include: ¢ Govindido - ‘Hands On’ Drum Workshop. Julu 15-17 * Susan Hughes - The Garden Within. duly 22-24. « Cherul Kolander - Silk Dyeing with Natural Dyes. Aug. 5-7 ¢ Sharyn Yuen - Papermaking by Hand. Sept. 9-11 | * Daphne Marlatt - dournal Writing for Women. Sept. 16-18 * Sandra Semehuck - Photographing Within Play. Sept. 30-Oct. 2 CALL CORRINE DAVIS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. CLAM BAY FARM R.R.1 North Pender Island, B.C. VON 2M0 (604) 629-6313