The Downeasters Soundings Weekly is a weekly email newsletter of the Downeasters Barbershop Harmony Chorus www.downeasters.org -Please send any Barbershopping news, Chorus news and show dates, Quartet news and appearances, Notes of Interest- including Chorus Shows and other Public Entertainment dates from around New England, requests to be removed from, or added to, the distribution list, etc. to soundings.ed@gmail.com. -Deadline for submission of articles of interest to the chorus is 5:00pm Thursdays. -This, and all Soundings are available online at: http://www.issuu.com/downeasters
And away we go…
Downeasters Chorus Rehearsals
Downeaster Chapter Meetings Lunt Auditorium, 74 Lunt Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105
Monday, May 2, 2022
6:30pm – 8:30pm Chorus Rehearsal Monday Rehearsal Live Zoom Reminder, for those playing the home game, the zoom info is below, it’s the same every week. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/92996428874?pwd=dFNFbFVMNlJSVmdCWE0rZmxDckJTZz09 Meeting ID: 929 9642 8874 Passcode: 9b275y Music Hallelujah Softly As I Leave You What a Wonderful World Sweet Caroline Irish Blessing O Canada Star Spangled Banner How High the Moon -> 5/16 Downeasters Updated Rehearsal Covid Rules - Social distancing and spacing. - Masks are optional, not required. - Fully vaccinated, initial round. Booster is not required. - Not sick. - No positive Covid test or exposure to Covid in the last 5 days. *************************************************************
Music Notes…
Rehearsal Recap 04-25-2022 What a great rehearsal on Monday! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, both inperson and on Zoom. Additionally, I want to take a moment and recognize everyone who sat during some of our final songs during the end of rehearsal. As we've talked about previously, my vision for the chorus is one where we can spend our time wisely in rehearsal and focus on our artistry and how we can use our music to tell stories and impact our audiences. This is only possible if we actually know our notes and words to such an extent that we can essentially take them for granted and shift our focus elsewhere. Those who chose to sit made a conscious choice to
say "It's okay that I don't know the words and notes right now - I'll be able to contribute next week." This was half a dozen of our best singers choosing to be a 0 or a +1 by choosing not to sing that week. And the result was some of the best singing we've done since we returned in person - and I know that because of that, once those guys are ready to rejoin the risers for those songs, it will just be even better!!! Major takeaways of Monday included singing more smoothly with a larger vision of each line, rather than note-by-note. Additionally, when we choose to engage with the music, regardless of how deep our story is, it makes our singing better - full stop. When we choose to "phone it in", that's what the singing sounds like; when we instead choose to bring facial engagement, as well as emotional, it's just a better chorus sound. I look forward to continuing that in the coming weeks and months. Next week, we will continue our work on Softly, Hallelujah, and What a Wonderful World. We will also bring our smooth singing to Caroline, Irish Blessing, O Canada, and Star Spangled Banner. And finally, as we said last week, everyone is to be off-paper on Bare Necessities this week - we WILL be working on that song Monday! (And one more reminder: How High the Moon is to be off-paper two weeks after that - 05/16) Thank you all for the hard work and fun times - see you Monday! -Chris
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
*************************************************************
Father Richard Wheeler's Burial Service May 9 (Mon) What: Father Richard Wheeler's Memorial Service Where: Pine Grove Cemetery, 9 Waites Landing Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105 Times: 11:00am Link: https://www.pinegrovecemeteryfalmouth.com *************************************************************
Nor’easter Chorus Shows! Show #1 Saturday, September 17th 2:00 pm South Parish Congregational Church, 9 Church St Augusta, with Maine-ly Harmony Barbershop Chorus, FairWinds Mixed Barbershop Chorus and quartets. We haven’t set up ticket pricing yet, but that info will be soon. *Corrected date: Show #2 Saturday, October 15th* at 2:00 pm at the United Methodist Church, 320 Church Rd Brunswick. Nor’easter’s, FairWinds plus the Windjammer Quartet performing plus we are putting together plans for other musical guests, so stay tuned on that. Afterglow at Pat’s Pizza, Pleasant St Brunswick. For information, contact Kathy Robitaille at kattsy2@yahoo.com or 207-542-7699. *************************************************************
Upcoming Dates…
NEDistrict Calendar Listings: https://www.nedistrict.org/calendar-lists
-Listing NED events and Chapter Shows!
* 2022 *
* 2022 *
* 2022 *
May 9 (Mon) What: Father Richard Wheeler's Memorial Service Where: Pine Grove Cemetery, 9 Waites Landing Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105 Time: 11:00am Link: https://www.pinegrovecemeteryfalmouth.com Jul. 3-10 (Sun – Sun) What: 2022 INTERNATIONAL: CHARLOTTE, NC Where: Charlotte, NC Link: https://www.barbershop.org/events/future-conventions Jul. 13 (Wed) What: 2022 Yarmouth Clam Festival Booth Setup Where: Yarmouth, ME Time: 10:00am Jul. 15-17 (Fri – Sun) What: 2022 Yarmouth Clam Festival Where: Yarmouth, ME Link: https://www.clamfestival.com Jul. 16 (Sat) ** Downeasters Performance ** What: 2022 Yarmouth Clam Festival Performance Where: Yarmouth, ME Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm Aug. 3 (Wed) ** Downeasters Performance ** What: Sea Dogs National Anthem Where: Hadlock Field, 271 Park Ave, Portland, ME Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm Call Time: TBA Aug. 10-21 (Fri – Sun) What: 2022 Meredith Bay Barbershop Jamboree Where: Meredith, New Hampshire Link: https://www.nedistrict.org/jamboree Sep 16-18 (Fri-Sun) What: THE 2022 NEW ENGLAND HARMONY BRIGADE RALLY Where: TBA Times: TBA Link: https://www.nehb.net Sep 17 (Sat) What: Nor’easter’s Show with Maine-ly Harmony Barbershop Chorus, FairWinds Mixed Barbershop Chorus and quartets Where: South Parish Congregational Church, 9 Church St ,Augusta Times: 2:00 pm For information, contact Kathy Robitaille at kattsy2@yahoo.com or 207-542-7699. Oct 15 (Sat)
What: Nor’easter’s Show, with FairWinds, the Windjammer Quartet Where: United Methodist Church, 320 Church Rd, Brunswick Times: 2:00 pm Afterglow: Pat’s Pizza, Pleasant St, Brunswick For information, contact Kathy Robitaille at kattsy2@yahoo.com or 207-542-7699. Oct. 21-24 (Fri – Mon) What: 2022 NED FALL DISTRICT Convention & Contests Where: Venue: Saint John Trade and Convention Centre 1 Market Square, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada E2L 4Z6 ** Passports Required to travel across the border** Link: https://www.nedistrict.org/2022-fall-district-info
* 2023 *
* 2023 *
* 2023 *
Sep 22-24 (Fri-Sun) What: THE 2023 NEW ENGLAND HARMONY BRIGADE RALLY Where: TBA Times: TBA Link: https://www.nehb.net **************************************************************
Upcoming Birthdays!: Bruce Sturgis
May 02
Granville Barrows
May 08
Lawrence Dodge
May 10
Ron Jr. Blake
May 10
Carl Cappello
May 22
************************************************************** From NEDsNews:
Videos of the Month Off the Chart - Steam Heat
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3y8buqwJDc Performed live at the Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California during the Barbershop Harmony Society's 2022 Midwinter Convention ************************************************************ From YouTube:
Featured Performance Anna Coyotes - One, Two, Three
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mes0HnZawc&list=PLcwXdNVvSNbgRTHDWMnTPYXEBerebxiXi&index=5
Performed live at the Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California during the Barbershop Harmony Society's 2022 Midwinter Convention ************************************************************ From YouTube:
Video Extra You Raise Me Up performed by Vocal Majority
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zaqp241VGrg You Raise Me Up is one of our most requested inspirational songs. It's available on our CD titled You Raise Me Up at http://vocalmajority.com/physical-rec.... ***************************************************************
Mission Statement Enriching Lives Through Excellence In A Cappella Harmony Active Repertoire -> You can always Sing! Anytime at All Blue Skies Caroline Consider Yourself God Bless America Hello Mary Lou How Deep is the Ocean I Will Go Sailing No More I'm Gonna Live Till I Die If I Loved You
Irish Blessing with the new tag It's a Most Unusual Day Keep The Whole World Singing Longest Time Love Me O Canada Star Spangled Banner The Cop On The Beat Tin Roof Blues Wonderful Day Medley
New Music: Nevertheless From the First Hello Can You Feel The Love Tonight Softly, As I Leave You Sweet Caroline Hallelujah What A Wonderful World When You Wish Upon A Star How High The Moon Bare Necessities
Christmas Music: Angels We Have Heard On High Go Tell It On The Mountain Jingle Bell Rock Silent Night Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas O Holy Night We Wish You A Merry Christmas Do You Hear What I Hear Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come All Ye Faithful Winter Wonderland
Click here to go to the music library Debra Lynn Follow-Up @ downeasters.choirgenius.com -> https:// downeasters.choirgenius.com/node/3617 You can navigate to it via the members only menu: Documents->Music Team->Debra Lynn Downeasters Practice Videos: Chris’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCGAv8zxVYf7KY9Lc-boIsQ Downeasters & Quartets Videos on YouTube: YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB2KEyK89e1G6-F0Un6EJr3NyHsMro3Lz ************************************************************** Downeasters Leadership for 2022
President Bill Bedford < wbedf0rd@nycap.rr.com > Primary: (518) 275-5627 Secretary Scott Kolda < mainiacsinsweden@yahoo.com > Primary: (207) 522-1020
Immediate Past President Fred Moore < fmoore@maine.rr.com > Primary: (207) 409-2736 Secondary: (207) 885-5822 Treasurer Roger Buck < rcbuck9@gmail.com > Primary: (207) 879-0643 Cell: (207) 749-9059
VP - Membership Rich Parsons < repdhp@msn.com > Primary: (207) 985-9196 Cell: (207) 232-7770
VP - Music George Feinberg < gmfeinberg@gmail.com > Primary: (207) 615-3748
VP - PR-Marketing Chris Cutler < christopherjcutler@gmail.com> Primary: (860) 808-9887
Board Member at Large Marshall Wagner <emwagner31@aol.com> Primary: (207) 232-1543
Director Chris Howard < crhlehigh@gmail.com > Primary: (201) 893-1173
Board Member at Large Jim Johnston < jimjohnston@maine.rr.com > Primary: (207) 619-7613 Cell: (207) 400-9760
Librarian Dwight Pensiero <DJPensiero@gmail.com> Primary: (207) 353-3244
Board Member at Large Mike Soper <gmichaelsoper@gmail.com> Primary: (207) 400-9184 Secondary: (207) 730-5624
"Soundings" Newsletter Editor Bruce Sturgis <BStur1@gmail.com> Primary: (207) 520-8354
Board Member at Large Sam Wainright < samwainright1@gmail.com > Primary: 207-518-8577 Cell: 860-759-4973
Bruce Sturgis Soundings Weekly Editor email: soundings.ed@gmail.com Downeasters Barbershop Chorus
www.downeasters.org