Over the past weekend, the Chorus performed at the NorCal West/Hawaii Division convention of the Far Western District. I thought we sang the first song very well, and the second broke down a bit in the middle. Maybe it was just singing in a new environment, but it just didn't sound so perfect to me. After the competition part of the evening, and the judges tabulated their scores, they announced the winners. First place was going to be a no-brainer. The Voices in Harmony, with 85 men on the risers and a former Barbershop Harmony Society president as director would be first place. The only question with them would be their score. "In third place, Palo Alto-Mountain View!" My mind started thinking, "hmm." The Palo Alto-Mountain View Chapter had been "The next chorus" to beat. Since we didn't have a chance to hear any of the choruses, I was wondering who was in second. "In second place, qualifying for District Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, and Plateau A Champions," the room was brought to a silence. My mind raced, "Monterey? Santa Rosa?" "'With a combined score of 62, Fremont-Hayward Chapter." The room went nuts. There it is, two years running, Plateau A Champions. Now if only we could actually have a major public performance instead of all these private performances and little semi-public gigs.
Now that it is finally December, I can stop spending so much time on my National Novel Month writing excersizes, so I can get back to arranging the song that I was working on. I use Lilypond for engraving, rather than Finale, mainly because of the cost differential, but I think it makes better prints and it is faster to enter the spots. Lilypond is currently available as stable version 2.10 for most operating systems. My barbershop template is right here. Make sure to right-click and choose "Save As..." The file is saved in a Unix format. In other, slightly related news, I forgot to backup my database before formatting my hard drive and crashed some of my other sites...
So the barbershop quartet is back in business. After our tenor left to pursue other employment schooling and didn't have any time for the chorus or quartet, we were treading water while we were looking for plan A.
Plan A was that we find another tenor. Didn't happen.
Plan B was that we found a lead who wanted to sing tenor. Didn't happen.
Plan C was that our bass (me) expand his virtuosity and become an even better singer by singing tenor and adding a new bass to our mix. That's what we have now.
The good news is that we have a quartet, the bad news is that until I get some good tenor chops, we won't be winning anything. The good news is that since I now have a target, I'll be able to get my chops working pretty quickly.
Had an incredible time over the weekend at Far Western District Fall Convention. From my vantage point on stage, I thought we brought it. The entire New Dimension Chorus was on fire. Seven hours later, the scores came out and I wasn't happy. Before the contest, I was expecting a score of 63-68. The score sheet was ten points below my expectation level. It was frustrating to have been working so much on our show package since spring contest to have a drop in points. We didn't go to Contest to compete with Westminster, http://www.vihchorus.org/, or Greater Phoenix, but I was disappointed with the way we sounded.
Congratulations to The New Westminster Chorus, for their incredible performance, and we wish you well in International Competition next July. Barbershop Harmony
There's a Little White Church (In the Valley), Music by Arthur Lange, words by Jeff Branen. For Men's Barbershop. The first complete arrangement by the Barbershop Bass. It's an uptune that tells the story of a young guy who's excited to meet Sal in the Little White Church where they will be married today. A sample will be available as a PDF format shortly. $2.39 per copy via paypal, 39¢ discount per copy for cash/check.
How To Order To order by PayPal, simply click the "Add to cart" button, then enter quantity. For cash/check discount, send a note describing pieces requested, quantities, and payment to the Barbershop Bass at the address below. All checks for over $100 and any personal checks must clear the bank before shipping. When ordering multiple quantities, you will receive one copy of each piece and an authorization letter giving you permission to make copies up to the number of copies purchased. DO NOT LOSE THE AUTHORIZATION LETTER. All pieces are licensed by ASCAP. All prices include Domestic USPS shipping. Inquire directly to the Barbershop Bass for international shipping. or mail payment to:
Jeff Harris
BarbershopBass.com
2530 Silsby Ave
Union City, CA 94587
Kyrie Elieson, for SATB Chorus.
The 1992 winner of the Los Medanos College Choral Competition, a delicate expression of "Christ Have Mercy." The first page will be available as a PDF format shortly. $2.39 per copy via PayPal, 39¢ discount per copy for cash/check. My Field, for SATB Chorus and Piano. The lyrics won the Concord (California) Young Poetry Contest of 1987. A remembering sonnet telling the tale of urban sprawl across a child's world.
The first page will be available as a PDF format shortly. $2.39 per copy via PayPal, 39¢ discount per copy for cash/check.
How To Order To order by PayPal, simply click the "Add to cart" button, then enter quantity. For cash/check discount, send a note describing pieces requested, quantities, and payment to the Barbershop Bass at the address below. All checks for over $100 and any personal checks must clear the bank before shipping. When ordering multiple quantities, you will receive one copy of each piece and an authorization letter giving you permission to make copies up to the number of copies purchased. DO NOT LOSE THE AUTHORIZATION LETTER. All pieces are licensed by ASCAP. All prices include Domestic USPS shipping. Inquire directly to the Barbershop Bass for international shipping. or mail payment to:
Jeff Harris
BarbershopBass.com
2530 Silsby Ave
Union City, CA 94587
Step Right Up! Be the first on your block to own a copy of the Barbershop Bass' unique musical scores. How To Order To order by PayPal, simply click the "Add to cart" button, then enter quantity. For cash/check discount, send a note describing pieces requested, quantities, and payment to the Barbershop Bass at the address below. All checks for over $100 and any personal checks must clear the bank before shipping. When ordering multiple quantities, you will receive one copy of each piece and an authorization letter giving you permission to make copies up to the number of copies purchased. DO NOT LOSE THE AUTHORIZATION LETTER. All pieces are licensed by ASCAP. All prices include Domestic USPS shipping. Inquire directly to the Barbershop Bass for international shipping. or mail payment to:
Jeff Harris
BarbershopBass.com
2530 Silsby Ave
Union City, CA 94587
I was perusing the Jack Baird Music Library, and heard this wonderful song about a guy meeting his girl at the church, and thought, "This is it." Then, I figured out what "It" is. It is the first song of which I am going to complete an arrangement in the Barbershop Style. Then, the fun began. Where to find a copy of the old music? I found the Edison Library. Chock full of rich nougaty goodness, this has one of the best archives of public domain/expired copyright sheet music that I've been able to find. Once it's done, I'll release it to the world. Check back right here to this domain for details about the song and ordering information. It may take a while, since I have to work for a living right now, but I plan on scouring the Jack Baird library and finding another couple of pieces that sound really nice and arranging them.
I was unable to attend Harmony College this year, because I'm fairly new to directing.
Doug Parker wrote to me:
Hi jharris@...
You weren't at HC this year?
Dr Don Campbell coined the term to illustrate the shaking, too-much-to-be-contained, bubbling energy and anticipation of a little kid that wants to break out but can't because they just don't know what to do. He used it to differentiate between the two phrases in You Make Me Feel So Young when the lyrics repeat:
You make me feel so,
You make me feel so,
Dr Don was directing the Directors Chorus and during rehearsals he said, "No, no, wait, I want you all on the second one to fritibrulate. C'mon, now let's try it again..." and of course everyone looked at each other with blank faces. That's when he dumped the definition on us.
The baritones are leading the move to get the term popularized and on the web. Someone else surely has a better definition than mine. We're considering a temporary yahoogroup to get some of the details talked out, but that may be overkill.
Doug Parker
Fritibrulation: (vi) to Fritibrulate.
Fritibrulate: (vi) the shaking, too-much-to-be-contained, bubbling energy and anticipation of a little kid that wants to break out but can't because they just don't know what to do.
Love it, learn it, use it.
Open House 2006!
Coming to the Fremont-Hayward Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society on August 17, 2006 at 7:00. Join us in the Music Building (Building 1200) at Chabot College on Thursday, August 17, 2006 for an evening of 4 part harmony and light refreshments. Nonsingers are welcome.
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