Volume 26, Issue 1 January, 2009
Meetings on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. at Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Music Team Chapter Meeting Chapter Board Concord Village Chapter Meeting Chapter Meeting 5:30 7:00 5:30 6:00 7:00 7:00
Indiana Harmony Brigade
This past weekend, November 7, 8 and 9, one hundred fifteen barbershoppers from 21 different states gathered on the west side of Indianapolis for a wonderful experience of Extreme Quartetting. then they are given the song that they Members of the Brigade receive will be singing for the quartet contest music and learning CD’s shortly after which starts about 8:30 the middle of June p.m. So the quartets and have almost Chapter Banquet and have a little over an five months to learn InstallatIon of o ffICers hour to get together 10 rather difficult Don’t forget to get your and prepare for the arrangements. As reservations in for the contest. This year soon as we start annual Chapter Banquet we had 32 quartets arriving at the and Installation of Officers. competing. The top annual rally, guys It will be held at Concord ten then advance to start gathering in Village at 6:00pm on the finals on Saturday groups of four in January 12. Please plan to night. about every little attend! open space they can On Saturday night the big event is a 7:30 show at Crispus Attucks High School where our entire group forms one large chorus to sing the ten new songs. Mixed in were some step-out quartets and also the boys and girls choirs from
Jan 5(m) Jan 5(m) Jan 12(m) Jan 12(m) Jan 19(m) Jan 26(m)
Administrative Board will meet the second Monday of each month at 5:30pm
Calendar
Feb 2(m) Feb 2(m) Feb 9(m) Feb 9(m) Feb 13-14 Feb 16(m) Feb 23)m) Mar 2(m) Mar 2(m) Mar 9(m) Mar 9(m) Mar 16(m) Mar 23(m) Apr 6(m) Apr 6(m) Apr 13(m) Apr 13(m) Apr 20(m) Apr 27(m) May 4(m) May 4(m) May 11(m) May 11(m) May 18(m) May 25(m)
Music Team 5:30 Chapter Meeting 7:00 Chapter Board 5:30 Chapter Meeting 7:00 Valentine Quartets Chapter Meeting 7:00 Chapter Meeting 7:00 Music Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Music Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Music Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Team Meeting Board Meeting Meeting Meeting Team Meeting Board Meeting Meeting Meeting Team Meeting Board Meeting Meeting Meeting 5:30 7:00 5:30 7:00 7:00 7:00 5:30 7:00 5:30 7:00 7:00 7:00 5:30 7:00 5:30 7:00 7:00 7:00
find and start singing the new songs. After the dinner at 6:00 p.m., guys are randomly selected to sing with three other guys that they have never sung with before. As soon as the four guys decide on their quartet name, they tell the contest administrator and
Minutes & Birthdays - Page 2 Yankee Swap - Page 3 Komet Night - Page 4 Borders - Page 5 Roger Ford BIO - Page 7 Songs we Sing - Page 8
In This Issue:
The Mission of the Summit City Barbershop Chorus is to offer male singers the opportunity to entertain using vocal music performances that adhere to the highest standards of sound production and presentation.
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January, 2009
Summit City Chorus Hotline:
The November Board Meeting was held at Simpson UM church on November 10, 2008. Present: Schumm, Ellison, DeWlitt, Thomas, Bell and Benner. *The Secretary’s report was read and approved. *The Treasurer’s report was received and discussed. The balance of all accounts totaled $11,196.49. *It was approved that we purchase a supply cabinet for storage at a cost of $100.00. *Al Schumm reported that a solicitation of inactive members is being considered. *It was approved that a new board position of V.P. of Youth in Harmony be established *Al Schumm announced the election of officers for 2009 would be held on November 17, 2008.
November
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Chapter Leadership
President Chapter Dev VP Program VP Membership VP Music & Perf. VP Youth in Harmony PR & Mkting VP Secretary Treasurer Board Member Board Member Chorus Mgr/ Librarian Bulletin Editor Past President Dick Ellison Jack Gossett Bob Benner Jack Gossett Al Schumm Dwight Nash Brian Eager Paul Dewitt Max Bell Dave Thomas Don Nobles
December
The December Board Meeting was held at Taylor Chapel UM Church on December 1, 2008 Present: Benner, Schumm, Ellison, Thomas, DeWitt and Bowman. *Secretary’s report was read and approved. *Treasurer’s report was presented and discussed. The balance of all accounts totaled $10,857.37. *The activity calendar for 2009 was presented and will be given to the membership at the January chapter meeting. *Determination will be made at the January board meeting as to whether to continue with our Grants Program with Jon Dize. *The board approved that those attending COTS will reimburse the chapter $25.00. *Revisions of the by-laws were previewed for presentation to the membership for approval at the January chapter meeting. *The meeting was adjourned.
Bob Bowman Ken Steffen Al Schumm
Musical Director Mark Leimer Assist Music Dir Keith Morphew
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109 Hillcrest Dr., Bluffton, Indiana, 46714 Home: 260-824-3594 Email: dutchmill@adamswells.com
Editor: Ken Steffen
Have you talked to anybody about barbershopping this week?
FEaturE Editor: Paul Snyder Photo Journalist: Delores Morphew Production & layout: Ken Steffen
The SCORE is the publication of the Fort Wayne, Indiana, Chapter of the Cardinal District of the Barbershop Harmony Society: Unless carrying a by-line, articles have been written by the Editor. We encourage contributions from our members. Such contributions reflect the individual opinions of their author and not necessarily the opinions of the members or officers of this chapter.
John Fiely - Jan 1 Bill Sark - Jan 10 Tom Schaden - Jan 16
January
James Gebele - Jan 18 Don Nobles - Jan 21 Dick Przeniczny - Jan 22
February
Ralph Pierce - Feb 3 Walt Leimer - Feb 4 Ken Steffen - Feb 14 Weston Young - Feb 19 Carl Sipe - Feb 22 Len Sieradski - Feb 22 Garry Norem - Feb 25 Jim Ash - Feb 26
January, 2009
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Yankee Swap (2008)
From Ken, to Vaughn: Dear Fellow Barbershopper, I am so glad that you took my warm fuzzy blanket last night. After I opened my present, I was obsessed with the thought, that I would be all wrapped up in this wonderful blanket in my recliner after I arrived at my home. I am so glad that you took that thought away, because I might have had an accident on the way home just thinking about my warm It would always be there to help me find things that fell off the back of the desk and got lost in the maze of wire and cable. “No more of that frustration” I thought. But in the game of Yankee Swap, just as in the game of life, nothing is forever. I found that my flashlight was taken away and I would have to continue to struggle with the status quo, even though I would be seeking in the dark for those long lost objects. After I got the bird feeder to replace it, I was warming up to the idea of enjoying the birds outside of the breakfast room window. I have a cast iron shepherd’s hook that I could mount in the ground about a foot from the window so that we could enjoy the beauty of nature “up close and personal” and right at eye level. We could attract the downy woodpeckers, cardinals, nuthatches, blue jays, etc. that would add some beauty to our otherwise dull view Much more beautiful than the cold, ice covered pond that we have to look at now and throughout the entire winter season until the spring thaw finally comes. Being the lucky person to draw #1 and have the last choice of gifts, I easily resisted the options of a bottle of wine, various Hickory Farms snacks, a dozen beers, DeBrand chocolates Al Schumm’s nut cracker, and the many wonderful gifts that were around the room. But when my eyes fell on your fuzzy throw, I just couldn’t resist it, knowing that you would think of me kindly as I settled down warmly for a long winter’s nap. Happy Holidays, -- Vaughn Albert
Bob Benner arranged a great evening of fun and mirth. This is not the first Yankee Swap that the SCC has participated in, but it had to be one of the funniest. It always starts out very innocent, but as the Swap progresses, it gets more and more tense. There were 27 participants, and all of the gifts were great. There was some modest swapping, but the last swap was the best. One of our members opened a box that had a warm fuzzy blanket for the gift, and I might add the recipient was very happy with the prize. The blanket endured unto the very last member, who had ticket #1. He walked around the circle of barbershoppers until he arrived at the famous blanket. After he chose this special present, he replaced it with a very nice bird feeder. Well the scene was not one that should appear in the “Harmonizer”. The following e-mail was sent from the first owner of the blanket, and the second e-mail was received the next morning from the receiver of “the” blanket.
fuzzy blanket. You have done me such a great service! Thank you, my fellow baritone barbershopper! (it’s hard to cuddle up to a bird feeder, but I will endure.) No hard feelings, -- Ken Steffen From Vaughn to Ken: I completely understand your feelings and share your disappointment. I was so excited about the flashlight that I got. It was one that I could keep on my computer work station as my very own.
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January, 2009
This sing-out is one that I look forward to every year. We not only sing Christmas carols at the top of the escalators before the game, but our performance on the ice, singing the national anthem, was awesome. I think there were over 6 thousand people at the hockey game that night, and a large portion of them filed past us as we were caroling prior to the game.
Komet Hockey Sing-Out
reaction from the crowd and some good contacts for new members. The pictures are ones that were taken of some of the people that we invited to attend with us and also hear us sing. There is also a picture of “ICEY” , who is the mascot of the Fort Wayne Komets. A big thanks to Dennis Schebig for making the arrangements and getting the extra tickets. It was a great night for the Summit City Chorus. -- Ken
We not only sang very well, in my opinion, but we always received good
Our Society’s Beginnings
Seen in the Poughkeepsie New Yorker Times, Greg L. Trigg, Editor We are always looking forward to bigger and better things, which is good and necessary, but so is looking back. Here’s the letter written by O.C.Cash 70 years ago and led to our Monday nights: April 6, 1938 Tulsa, Oklahoma Gentlemen: In this age of dictators and Government control of everything, about the only privilege guaranteed by the Bill of Rights not in some way supervised or directed, is the art of Barber Shop Quartet singing. Without doubt we still have the right of “peaceable assembly” which I am advised by competent legal authority includes quartet singing. The writers of this letter have for a long time thought that something should be done to encourage the enjoyment of this last remaining vestige of human liberty. Therefore, we have decided to hold a songfest on the Roof Garden of the Tulsa Club on Monday, April 11, at six-thirty P.M. A Dutch lunch will be served. After several months of research, and investigation, we are convinced that your record warrants out tendering you the honor of joining this group. We sincerely trust that you will not fail us. As evidence of the work that your Committee has done in this connection, we enclose a compilation of most of the good old fashioned Barbershop Quartet songs which we trust you will look over and familiarize yourself with. Bring this list with you. It is our purpose to start right in at the first, sing every song, in numerical order, plow right down the middle, and let the chips fall where they will. What could be sweeter than ten or twelve perfectly synchronized male voices sing “Dear Old Girl”? Just thinking about it brought back to your committee fond memories of a moonlight night, a hay ride and soft young blonde summer visitor from Kansas City we dated on the occasion years ago. Do not forget the date, and make every effort to be present, telephone us if convenient. We will have a private room and so will not be embarrassed by the curiosity of the vulgar public. You may bring a fellow singer if you desire. Harmoniously yours, Ruper J Hall, Royal Keeper of the Minor Keys, O.C. Cash, Third Temporary Assistant Vice-Chairman.
January, 2009
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SCC Sings at Borders
The Summit City Chorus sang at Border’s Book Store on Friday Dec 5. The “gig” at Border’s came by an invitation from the store General Manager, Nancy Alexander. We were invited after the King’s Court quartet did a singing Valentines in February for one of the baristas and a day manager at the store. We did create a lot of interest from persons looking on and we did manage to get the barista to have a red face. G.M. Nancy Alexander and several of her staff asked if the chorus would sing for us on some Friday which is usually the normal night for live entertainment at the store. I presented the idea at the November board meeting and the board gave me the OK to make the contact with Border’s and set up the date. I contacted Nancy, informed her of our plans and she was delighted. The chorus did a wonderful job singing for the audience.
Is this the Same Quartet?
Diane has been our angel of help for many years, and continues to do so. She has one of our quartets to furnish entertainment for some of her many parties that she hosts at her home. The one below was for the Tri Kappa Sorority. They were introduced by another member of the Fort Wayne Summit City Chorus who played a few songs on her grand piano before the main show began. I might add that this quartet did a fantastic job singing to this group of 25 ladies. Great job guys. --Ken
The two pictures above are, in fact, the same quartet. They call themselves Those Guys. The reason why they chose that name is quite another story. They are from left, Brian Eager, tenor, Dwight Nash, bass, Max Bell, baritone, and Al Schumm, lead. They are quite the fun loving animals that Although we had a short repertoire and you see in the top picture, and also small audience to sing for, the audience fun loving, but serious quartet singers was ever changing as well as being appreciative. Nancy said that many store that you see in the bottom picture. patrons, not sitting in the Coffee Café shop, were asking her who we were, The first picture was taken at our thought we were great and that they annual Halloween party, and the hoped that we would do it again. We second was taken at the beautiful have been invited to come back next home of Diane Humphrey in Bluffton. year. I also had 2 gentlemen interested in possibly singing with us but they are completing college work and will not be available for 6 months. I did a commercial for the spring show and some are planning to attend. The SCC men that sang informed me that they had a good time and many people let me know how much they enjoyed us. A big thanks to Keith Morphew who directed us, Hoosier Gentry, Those Guys and chorus members who participated. I thank you as well for helping make the “gig” a success. -- Bob Benner-Program VP
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January, 2009
I.H.B.
Continued from Page 1
Family Life Center
As most of you know, SCC recently moved to a new venue for the weekly chorus practice. We held the first practice at Taylor Chapel on November > 3. We practiced in Taylor’s new Family Life Center. Actually, it was so new that their planned dedication hadn’t yet occurred. That was fortunate for SCC. It was equally fortunate that SCC member, Brian Eager, is a member of Taylor Chapel. I’m not certain but I believe that connection had something to do with SCC receiving an invitation to sing at the Family Life Center dedication. On Sunday, December 7, Director Mark Leimer and 23 SCC singers gathered at Taylor Chapel at noon to help dedicate the Family Life Center building. While the Taylor Chapel members were enjoying the Dedication Banquet in the new building, SCC warmed up in the sanctuary. When it was time for the Dedication Service, Leimer led the SCC singers to the stage in the Family Life Center and onto the risers. From the risers, the singers could see - and be seen by - the congregation members seated at twenty 8-place round tables. It was a good size, well fed crowd ready for some entertainment. SCC obliged. The chorus sang five songs. In addition, two quartets (Those Guys and Hoosier Gentry) each sang two songs. By the end of the performance, it was apparent that theTaylor members were really enjoying the singing.However in my opinion, it didn’t start out that way. After the first two chorus songs, the audience gave polite applause. Then Those Guys quartet stepped off the risers. When they sang their famous “Squirrel Song”, the audience came alive. That song “got them going”. They laughed and clapped during parts of the song. It was obvious they enjoyed it. After that, the applause was louder and longer for every song - especially Hoosier Gentry’s “Go Tell It On The Mountain” and the chorus finale a ‘Gospel Medley”.
Pike High School. District champ “The Edge” did a set as the featured quartet. Then it’s back to the Clarion Hotel for the quartet finals at around 10:30. Following that is pizza for all and then a mass of foursomes gathering all over the place. We all try to sing with as many different guys as we can until we usually give it up by 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning. My personal “high” was getting to sing three songs with Kenny Hatton. When the weekend is over, we have singing withdrawal and can’t wait to get the new songs for next year. The Brigade movement started in North Carolina around 16 years ago, then Duane Henry and Terry Silke decided to start one in Indiana in 2003. So this was our sixth year for the Brigade rally. After ours, a couple years ago some guys started the Atlantic Harmony Brigade and there some other states that are currently planning to start one. Fort Wayne guys participating this year were Jim Ash, Dwight Nash, Dan Johnson, Tom Schaden, Dave Reiff, Doug Bilby and myself. We probably had between 30 and 40 Fort Wayne people in the audience at the Saturday night show. You can ask Ken Steffen if the show was any good or not. -- Carl Sipe
Following the SCC performance, all chorus members (including wives) were invited to partake of the remaining Banquet Food Line. There was enough for everyone. It was delicious. On behalf of Director Mark Leimer I thank all the singers for an energetic effort. Chorus members can thank Chorus Manager Bob Bowman and chorus member Brian Eager for making the performance arrangements with Taylor Chapel. A hearty thank you to our M.C. pair Al Schumm and Jeff Goshorn. Also, a big thank you goes to Mark Leimer for directing and keeping us all focused. “IGTBABEFFW!” These are the abbreviated words of former member, “One Hump Denis”. ( Translation It’s Great To Be A Barbershopper Especially From Fort Wayne) How many remember Denis? -- P.E.S.
January, 2009
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Roger Ford BIO
Roger Ford has been coming to practice with the Fort Wayne Summit City Chorus for some time now, and seems to be enjoying it a lot. He always has people around him, and loves to talk about his life away from chorus. Roger has been married to his wife, Jody for 31 years. She plays the piano and also the flute. They have 3 adult children and 7 grandchildren. He was born in Kendallville and he attended Kendallville (East Noble) High School where he sang in the chorus. Roger is a member of the Ascension Church in Fort Wayne, and also sings in the chancel choir. He was a medic in the service of our country for 8 years and now works as a Registered Nurse in surgery at the Dekalb Memorial Hospital.. Roger has been in the medical health care field for over 40 years. Roger sings lead and hopes that he can add to the great sound of the Fort Wayne Summit City Chorus.
You Know You’re a Barbershopper:
When you turn off your computer and your computer says “Good-bye” and you sing “My Coney Island Baby”. When your wife gives birth to triplet boys and you were hoping for four. When you go all the way to Bluffton just to sing two songs. When your favorite instrument is the pitch pipe. When you’ll even sing baritone. When someone says barber shop and you don’t think of a haircut. When you see three guys standing together at a party and you wonder if they can sing. When you hear the song, “Red Red Robin” and cringe. When you go on a trip and take a pitch pipe and forget your toothbrush.
The Songs that We Sing
O Canada
“O Canada” was proclaimed Canada’s national anthem on July 1, 1980, one years after it was first sung on June 24, 1880. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallee, a wellknown composer. French lyrics to accompany the music were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier. The song gained steadily in popularity. Many English versions have appeared over the years. The version on which the official English lyrics are based was written in 1908 by Mr. Justice Robert Stanley Weir. The official English version includes changes recommended in 1968 by a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons. The French lyrics remain unaltered.
Use of our Vocal Folds
From Ginny Johnson We all use our vocal folds much more for speaking than for singing. Making sure we speak correctly is important to a singer. Listen to your chorus members talk. Do they all sound like they are using their voice correctly? Just like athletes must exercise to improve their performances, so must singes exercise to gain strength in the muscles needed to produce a rich vocal sound. Singing is an activity that requires the whole body. Through regular exercise, we can reduce the effects of aging, prevent injuries, increase endurance, and decrease fatigue. All singers need to maintain a high level of total body fitness through regular conditioning, as the level of physical performance directly correlates to the level of fitness. When we use a balanced program of bodily exercises, we gain endurance for our heart as well as muscular strength, flexibility, and coordination.
Ken Steffen 109 Hillcrest Drive Bluffton, Indiana 46714 260-824-3594 (H)
1993 Buckeye Invitational Champion
1985, 1988, 1993 & 2003 District Chorus Champs