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, June 20, 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 Bare Necessities How High the Moon Sweet Caroline Can You Feel the Love Tonight Nevertheless Blue Skies Cop on the Beat -> record Downeasters Updated Rehearsal Covid Rules - Wearing Masks are OPTIONAL until further notice. - Social distancing and spacing. - 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 06-13-2022 Thank you for another fun rehearsal! It was great to see so many returning faces, as well as more than half a dozen others on Zoom! As for the work last night, the greatest improvement was during Bare Necessities, which is quickly becoming a very enjoyable listen! A reminder of the finer points we discussed in that song: - The intro is all space and pace. Keep your singing space all the way through, whether we sing loud or soft. Additionally, remember the conversational pace we've added to that intro and you will do very well!
- Once we get into the song, focus on more target vowels and less consonants. Especially when it comes to those 'S' sounds, too much of that creates a gap in our sound and really takes away from the enjoyment of the song. - In the bridge, the basses have the melody, so support them by singing softly but supported until your echoes. The first one can have more emphasis while the basses hold the note, but the second one gets more character: "sweet home". In general, keeping your good singing space is essential to our growth as a chorus. Remember that our goal in singing in a chorus environment is the sound of the chorus, not the sound of any individual. This means that I don't care whether or not you sing every note, and in fact no one in the audience will notice if you do or don't. So, the best and most helpful singers in a chorus setting are those that put their personal "wants" aside and choose to do what's right for the chorus. So, how does this relate to the topic of singing space? Simple: if you start to lose that space, I don't want you singing another note until you recapture that space. This may sound like I'm being picky, but really I just would prefer the audience hears each of us at our best, and because we're in a chorus environment, we ALWAYS have the opportunity to do just that simply by taking individual breaths when we feel that space lessening and coming back in with the rest of our section with the proper singing space. Remember: when you choose to sing with a chorus, you choose to do what's best for the group, not just what you want to do, which may mean not singing every note. (As always, if this is a struggle for you, please talk to your section leader and we'd be happy to assist and coach!) For next week, we will work more on Bare Necessities, How High the Moon, Sweet Caroline, and Can You Feel the Love Tonight. We will also do rep runs of Nevertheless and Blue Skies. And finally, we will record Cop on the Beat. As with last week, this will be in the first segment, so please bring your recorders to the risers with you as you join us for warmups. Have a great week see you Monday! -Chris
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Reminder: Clam Festival Signup Link Here - July 15-17 Thank you to those who have already signed up to help make the Downeasters Chorus run a successful event this year. There are still more shifts that need staff, and we're inviting Royal River Chorus and Nor'easters (& friends) to profit-share this year. RRC - your primary signup needs are at "Guest staff while Downeasters perform." But all shifts have open slots that you can see as "Filled... 6 of 20" for example. Sign up link here https://signup.com/go/kboEnpv -- Mike Soper, Downeasters Chorus Mobile 207-400-9184
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~ ~ ~ ~ Quartet time!
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Next week, "quartet time" will include Cop...Beat. Chris has asked us to be ready to record it, so we all should be ready to sing it.
The second song will be Bare Necessities. This is a newer song, but we made good progress on it this week. We will likely sing this one as an octet. Looking forward to it! - Sam
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Maroon Shirts for Chapter We have casual short- and long-sleeve maroon Downeasters shirts we use for warm weather and casual gigs, likely including the clam festival performance. If you do not have them, please let *me* know what you need and size and I'll put them together for Dave Marstaller, who orders them. Many of you haven't seen Dave in a while as he's been away so it may be easier for me to coordinate. To clarify, my note has *nothing* to do with green t-shirts. These are button-down shirts in sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL, etc and are for performances, not slinging rickeys :-) The reason I'm asking is that we will probably use them for the performance the Sat of clam festival. It is an outdoor stage (under a tent). ~ George gmfeinberg@gmail.com *************************************************************
Sending Emails to Chorus Members all members: -> members@downeasters.choirgenius.com The board is:-> board@downeasters.choirgenius.com The music team is: -> musicteam@downeasters.choirgenius.com The voice parts: - > lead, bari, bass, tenor @downeasters.choirgenius.com *************************************************************
Upcoming Dates…
NEDistrict Calendar Listings: https://www.nedistrict.org/calendar-lists -Listing NED events and Chapter Shows!
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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 4-7 (Thu-Sun) What: HARMONY Explosion Camp Northeast An immersive, 4-day, a cappella Music Camp for High School Guys and Gals! Where: Worcester State University 486 Chandler Street • Worcester, MA 01609 Times: TBA Link: https://www.nedistrict.org/hxne Aug. 19-21 (Fri – Sun) What: 2022 Meredith Bay Barbershop Jamboree Where: Meredith, New Hampshire Link: https://www.nedistrict.org/jamboree Aug. 27 (Sat) ** Downeasters Performance ** What: Church On The Cape Where: 3 Langsford Rd, Cape Porpoise, Maine 04014 Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Call Time: TBA Link: https://www.churchonthecape.org 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
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Sep 22-24 (Fri-Sun) What: THE 2023 NEW ENGLAND HARMONY BRIGADE RALLY Where: TBA Times: TBA Link: https://www.nehb.net **************************************************************
Upcoming Birthdays!: Roger Buck
Jun 15
David Marstaller
Jun 23
Christopher Howard
Jun 26
Brian Carroll
Jul 06
Brian Halton
Jul 18
************************************************************** From YouTube:
Videos of the Month Vocal Majority - Stars and Stripes Forever
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUxelwYkQ0A For Flag Day! The Vocal Majority shares our video of "Stars and Stripes Forever," with the original lyrics written by John Philip Sousa. It's a patriotic American march widely considered to be his magnum opus. By a 1987 act of the U.S. Congress, it is the official National March of the United States of America. ************************************************************ From LiveWire:
Featured Performance Easternaires - Garland of Old Fashioned Roses
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f-7MTINZdc Performed live in New Orleans, Louisiana during the Barbershop Harmony Society's 1971 International Convention ************************************************************
Video Extra ACOUSTIX "STARS & STRIPES FOREVER" PREMIERE Introduced by: PETER JENNINGS YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbtggB0m9iY A rare moment for champion barbershop quartet ACOUSTIX. Their first performance of their stunning arrangement of John Phillip Sousa's STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER as performed at the Society's annual event several years ago at the New Orleans' SuperDome. Their friend PETER JENNINGS even introduces the guys from his New York newsroom!
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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 < wbedford11@gmail.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 downeasters.choirgenius.org