07 Oct Legislature tune-spinners & the Legend of the Mix-Tape Mishap

Last week I marvelled at the sophistication of the music that plays when the Nova Scotia Legislature’s video feed pauses for bells summoning members to a vote. The 11 tunes that bided time for the vote on second reading of Bill 1 ranged from modern jazz to classical to some of Nashville’s greatest instrumentalists.

“Who programs this legislative mix-tape?” I wondered.

An email from Neil Ferguson, Chief Clerk of the House of Assembly, supplies the answer:

[T]he music is chosen by the Manager of Legislative Television Broadcast and Recording Services, Mr. Jim MacInnes, and his staff at Leg TV. The selections are stored on a computer drive, and are played on a random basis.

On ceremonial days, a selection of more “pomp and circumstance” music is used.

On such important days, this avoids any embarrassment—like the situation that occurred once during the wait for a recorded vote when the computer played “Send in the Clowns.”

And, for the record, being the cautious, parliamentary bunch that we are, we have the proper SOCAN licence.

With thanks to the chief clerk, and an admiring tip of the contrarian hat to Jim MacInnes and his savvy staff, I’ll note only that, during the wait for that vote on Bill 1, the feed played, “These Foolish Things” by Chet Baker, and “Stompy Jones” by Duke Ellington. (Mr. Ellington died in 1974, and there is absolutely no reason to believe he was acquainted with Joan Jessome.)

PS: Have you got any Stéphane Grappelli or Django Reinhardt on that hard drive, Jim? How about a few bars of, “You’re Driving Me Crazy,” or “It Don’t Mean a Thing?”