Marin Chapter |
A fun-loving fraternity of Barbershop Harmony |
Our 50th Year |
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SPEBSQSA, Inc. |
singers, leading the cause of encouraging vocal music |
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Golden Gate Chorus |
in our schools and community. |
Autumn, 2004 |
Frank Walker 388-6708
Stan Elkjer 479-6573
Harry Paretchan 898-9980
Marketing, PR & Pitch
C. Northup 707/823-4977
Bob Engan 435-0329
Stan Elkjer 479-6573
Paul Wren 924-9550
Dale Steinmann 479-1949
Terry Lazzari 883-6200
BARBERSHOP
BANDWAGON
EDITION
October 24th:
“Listen to the beat as they’re comin’ down the street. My, my don’t they look neat? Hear that music, ain’t it grand? It’s Alexander’s Rag Time - Come and hear them play; see ‘em swing and sway, that ragtime ba-aaaaaand! RAGTIME BA-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND!!!!
As these final strains of the last song of our 50th anniversary, BARBERSHOP BANDWAGON show echoed through the halls of the Marin Showcase Theatre; the packed house was showered with a magnificent array of red, white and blue balloons and a curtain call with one great big show-stopping chorus and a hats off spread. Thus ended what by most accounts was one of the best chapter shows in recent memory (if not in history)!
With a mock political convention (for the Muskrat Party) theme, the show came complete with lots of red, white & blue balloon bouquets; campaign posters; a 32 foot long convention banner; a convention chairman; many spontaneous demonstrations from the convention delegates; Jump on the Barbershop Bandwagon campaign buttons; and our very own candidates for President and Vice President.
The convention sessions opened with a rousing rendition of Give Me That Barbershop Style sung by the ‘Muskrat Rambler’ Chorus resplendent in their new red suspenders, white shirts, black pants and bow ties. Our candidate for President, Alex Brandon ‘Brandy’ Alexander, was introduced to the delegates and was greeted with a lusty ‘AL-EX’ demonstration led by an enthusiastic spectator (Jim Williams) equipped with a large Uncle Sam hat and flashing red, white & blue signs. The Rambler Chorus led a Chordbuster march around the hall and then sent Alex home to look for a running mate who would bring him luck with A Four Leaf Clover.
The convention then listened to the reports of our four man advisory committees on issues of importance to the Muskrats.
The first report by the ‘Pipe Dreamers’ (Goerke, Goerke, Wren & Steinmann) commented on the importance of selecting the ideal slate of candidates with When I’m Sixty Four. Next came the ‘Side By Sidewinders’ (Kling, Lee, Elkjer & Goldsmith) expressing the optimism and need to stick together required for success with Side By Side.
The ‘Muskers’ (Bell, Cox, Wren & Northup) then helped us polish up the party image with the Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy. Finally the ‘Fund Finders’ (Jim Williams, Bill Griffin, Dave Hanchette & Rex Huston) suggested to us how to raise our party’s dough with The Auctioneer Song.
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Following these committee reports the convention moved on to a consideration of the issues. Of prime importance to the Muskrats was wooing the undecided voter. Fortunately for us, Mr. Montague Mugwump (Frank Montenegro) had volunteered to appear at the convention wearing only his trademark barrel. (The significance of which is open to debate.)
Unable to make up his mind, Mr. Mugwump was then wooed by the ‘Pros’ (Kling, Lee & Goldsmith) appropriately attired in pastel sweaters, plus fours, visors and golf clubs to tell Mr. Mugwump how they were always right!
Then the ‘Cons’ (Goerke, Goerke, & Steinmann) clad all in black slinked onto the scene to entice Mr. Mugwump into their way of thinking about the issues and how wrong the other side was.
Still undecided, Mr. Mugwump suggests that there is ONE issue they can all agree on – and that is – MONEY!!!! All then joined Mr. Mugwump in a stirring rendition of The Money Song during which all flung money about the stage. The Pros and Cons then exited, leaving Mr. Mugwump to smilingly count the money!
At this point, Alexander returned to announce that he had selected Senator Nellie O’Possum as his running mate. An enthusiastic NEL-LIE demonstration ensued followed by the Ramblers singing Wait Til The Sun Shines, Nellie.
Unfortunately, we were then informed that Nellie had disappeared. Alexander is crushed and turns to the chorus to lament with All By Myself. Sir Tony Pail (Paul Wren) then comes to Alexander’s aid to lead the ‘Missing Persons Medley’ (Five Foot Two & Somebody Stole My Gal). To further soothe his jangled nerves, Alex took to the hot tub with his very best friend while Sir Tony led the Ramblers in ‘Le Canard en Caoutchouc’ Theme & Variations for Men’s A Cappella Chorus and Instrumental Soloist. Professor Mandrake Mallard made a guest appearance as the latter. (Kling in duck hat, black rimmed spectacles, frock coat and flippers.)
The curtain closed on this session of the convention; search parties were dispatched to look for Nellie; and delegates retired to the bar for intermission. Dan Hooker entertained on banjo during this interlude to the delight of the delegates.
As the delegates reconvened for the second session, the news was not good. Nellie O’Possum was still missing. The delegates & chorus led by Sir Tony tried to cheer themselves up by singing the Muskrat Song. That seemed to work as the Chairman announced that Nellie had been found in an East Bay coffee shop with a dead cell phone. All celebrated with a rousing chorus or two of Happy Days Are Here Again.
The Ramblers immediately began to court the Irish vote by singing the Irish Medley. They then took the campaign south with Back In Dixie. Campaign hot air was remembered with Summertime and the inimitable terpsichore of ‘Bojangles’ Harvey.
The youth vote was then solicited with the smooth song styling of the young men of Whirlwind, making their final stage appearance together.
This outstanding performance brought the convention rapidly toward a final climax of song. As the curtain opened for the last time, the Rambler chorus had all donned their boaters with the red, white & blue bands, as they led a parade through the streets to the tune of Dixie Band.
The parade continued with our signature marching song, Muskrat Ramble. The delegates were inspired to demonstrate once more for NEL-LIE and AL-EX as Alex and the Ramblers brought down the house with their energetic performance of Alexander’s Ragtime Band.
SHOW CREDITS
Many thanks to the boys of the chorus for their individual enthusiasm, energy and patience during the long hours of show preparation. These erstwhile songsters included:
LEADS: Garthwaite, Goerke, Kingdon, Kling, Lazzari, Paretchan, Robinson, Thomas & Walker
TENORS: Elkjer & Montenegro
BASSES: Brockbank, Field, Griffin, Henry, Lee & Steinmann
BARIS: Engan, Goerke, Goldsmith, Hanchette, Harvey & Wren
Special thanks go also to the Show’s:
Producer & Program Editor: Stan Elkjer
Director & Ad Sales Mgr: Ralph Kling
Chorus Director: Chuck Northup
Assistant Chorus Director: Paul Wren
Script Committee: Bob Engan, Paul Goldsmith & Ralph Kling
Sets & Props: David Hanchette
Afterglow MC: Paul Goldsmith
September 13th:
Appearing this evening at the invitation of Dick Robinson, Harmony Express entertained members of this venerable Berkeley institution with a ‘History of Barbershop’ show. Leading off with their Let’s Sing A Little Barbershop opener and Bye Bye Blues musical message, the HE-Men followed with their California Medley & Frisco Bay story of the man who couldn’t wait to get back to San Francisco and his gal named Kate. Stan’s history of barbershop began with
A turn-of-the-century quartet singing Sweet Adeline. They continued with a vaudeville style rendition of their 1908 Medley followed by a WWI era Cohan Medley. They wrapped up the program with the ‘more modern’ tunes of How Can I Miss You, This Little Light of Mine and their high kicking version of Side By Side.
(For more on the Hillside Club visit: www.hillsideclub.org.)
September 14th:
Returning to one of their favorite venues, the Golden Gate Choristers brought out a full house at their annual concert for the residents of Smith Ranch. Ably directed by Chuck Northup and Emcee’d by Paul Goldsmith (doing his best note fumbling imitation of Bob Engan), the chorus boys performed a varied program of old favorites to the general pleasure of the audience.
A That Barbershop Style introduction was followed by the Chordbusters March, The Old Songs & Do You Remember The Good Old Days. This first set wound down with the Chorus singing: Down By The Old Mill Stream, Nellie & Shenandoah. Harmony Express livened up the proceedings with a stirring rendition of George M. Cohan’s Give My Regards To Broadway, Yankee Doodle Dandy & It’s A Grand Old Flag. Paul Wren then took the stand to conduct our ‘missing persons’ medley of Five Foot Two & Somebody Stole My Gal. Chuck led us in a heartfelt All By Myself, followed by our ‘birds’ thing (a Rubber Duckie led by a Wren). Next came our fabled ‘green’ songs: If There’d Never Been An Ireland, Danny Boy & Four Leaf Clover.
The Directors Quartet (Wren, Northup, Engan & Elkjer) then showed everyone how barbershop harmony sounds when it is done to perfection with a flawless Sweet & Lovely. For its last set, the Chorus headed south for a trio of ‘Dixie’ songs: Back In Dixie; Sam, The Old Accordion Man; and Listen To That Dixie Band.
Former Chapter President and long time Smith Ranch resident, Sid Foster, provided a happy footnote to this performance as he joined the chorus for several numbers including our final God Bless America.
October 1st:
Participating in the inaugural for the new Art Beat San Rafael event, a Chapter quartet was asked to perform at the ribbon cutting ceremony in the Mayor’s office this Saturday afternoon. Answering the bell was the fine quartet of Dick Robinson, Lead; Stan Elkjer, Tenor; Dale Steinmann, Bass & Paul Goldsmith, Baritone. Their participation was gratefully acknowledged by Phyllis Thelen, the Mistress of Ceremonies & the Marin Ballet’s Company’s ‘Grand Dame’.
October 2nd: Performing on stage at the Belrose Theatre as part of this event was our very own Art Beat Four quartet with Kling, Lead; Northup, Bass; Goldsmith, Bari; and Elkjer, Tenor. (This performance gave new meaning to the initials, SRO.)
WITH PROFESSOR CHUCK
In the key of F, when the Lead moves up to a major third (from F to A), the correct melodic choice will depend on what the role of the A is in the next chord. If the Lead is moving from the root of an F-major chord to the 3rd of a second F-major chord, then the frequency ratio of the melodic interval of the major third will, indeed, be 4:3. That will certainly preserve tonal center and the chord will be in tune. However, if the Lead is moving from F to A and singing the root in each case, that would be a chord change from an I-major to a III chord (most likely a III-7). This is a large clockwise jump on the circle of fifths and the A that is sung should be a Pythagorrean third above F. That is 1.25% higher in pitch than the 4:3 choice. (The ratio 81/80 comes in here and that is called a syntonic comma should anyone be remotely interested.)
Now think for a moment what that requires of a harmony singer who sings the third of that A7 chord. This is a case
of having to sing thirds very sharp, but that third will still be a justly tuned third above the A. In this example, if the Lead only goes up by a justly tuned 4:3 third, chances are very good that there will be a loss of tonal center of 1.25%. This very thing happens four times in only one chorus of Five Foot Two! That means a 5% loss in tonal center and THAT is nearly one whole semitone!
Editor’s note: At last we now have justification and a scientific reason for why the leads sing flat!
Marin General Hospital 12:30 pm (Quartet)
Nov 24 Rotary Club Thanksgiving
McInnis Park Golf Club
7:30pm (Chorus)
Dec 8 Whistlestop Benefit Lunch
Marin Country Club
12:00pm (Quartet)
Dec 11 Christmas Singing
Local Malls
12:00 to 3:00pm (Chorus)
Dec 14 Mending Hearts Christmas
Marin General Hospital
7:00pm (Chorus)
Dec 21 Christmas Concert
The Tamalpais, Greenbrae
7:30pm (Chorus)