ISLAND CITY CHORUS

GREATER MONTREAL CHAPTER

SPEBSQSA Inc.

The Little Chorus that could!

MINI PITCH

Date: March 4, 2002

It was great to get an email from our fearless, tonsil-less leader, Rob Mance, letting us know that he had come through his surgery with flying colours.

He was happy with his progress, saying, "The surgery went tons better than I predicted and the pain is rather minimal for the moment. I've managed to take all of my pills, downed a big bowl of cherry Jell-O and had a nice tall glass of water. (ahhhh... good times... good times!J )"

He noted that we would be under the "Expert care" of our presentation people and our Associate Director, Morgan Lacroix, "Men, we'll continue to prepare for ARCIM this Monday, with some presentation work on Steppin' Out and How Deep (also try to memorize the chorus of Roses of Picardy)."

"I'm missing all of you very much and I can't wait to see all of you in two weeks. I'm looking forward to doing some great singing."

[From the H@rmonet. By Jay Giallombardo, Direstor, New Tradition Chorus, 2001 Gold Medalistts, Music Judge and arranger]

If you want to know what barbershop is, the definition has really been reduced to just a few points. When you hear these general features, incorporated in performance, you are hearing the barbershop style...it's just that simple.

1. 4-part a cappella
2. Lock and Ring vocal style
3. Melody in the 2nd tenor, harmony above
4. Homophonic texture
5. Traditional chord vocabulary; richness of harmonic progressions
6. Creative embellishments for variety, contrast, and musical development
7. Recognizable song forms and cohesive structures

[From the H@rmonet. By Jay Giallombardo, Direstor, New Tradition Chorus, 2001 Gold Medalistts, Music Judge and arranger]

I find this attitude most distressing.

The purpose of a judging system, in my estimation, is primarily educational. It is an opportunity to set musical and skill-building goals and to measure, in competition, the degree to which the goal is achieved.

The groups that adopt this attitude of striving for a reasonable goal are the groups that will most often succeed.After each milestone, they develop new goals, refine skills, and continue along the path of achievement and success.

In most contests there are many winners. These are the ones that accomplish their goals. The groups that have attained top ranking are usually those which prepared the best to meet their goals. Those that are discouraged by watching the top groups meet their goals are sorely in need of what the great "Jim Miller" referred to as: "an attitude adjustment"...( said with his country "Kentucky" drawl.)

The Society does offer encouragement to smaller groups (small chorus awards) and to beginners (novice awards). Perhaps additional encouragement is needed such as "most improved (from the previous competition). The Buckeye Invitational offers the "most entertaining". Yet, rightfully, we do celebrate the winners, for their accomplishment, and for the inspiration they provide to propel others toward their goals. Even so, the key here is understanding the purpose of competition and using the system to realize personal and group goals. There are also many secondary benefits of the competitive effort. Fun and excitement, entertaining or moving the audience, as well the important contribution that is made by participating and keeping our art form alive and well.

That contribution comes in many forms: Competition is certainly one, but service to chapter, participating in auxiliary organizations like PROBE or AHSOW. Why, just showing up to chapter night can be an inspiration to others!

For those that lose heart, I suggest we be thankful for the opportunity, understand the purpose of competition, and realize the many benefits for participation, at whatever level. There isn't a better, fulfilling activity in the world where one can do so much for others and self.

Competition IS the life-blood of the Society. From this we discover who we are, and what we can be.

[Someone asked what to do with a "dead" pitchpipe.]

We bury ours. We assemble the entire chapter in performance uniform in the backyard of the Musical Director. We obtain an Honor Guard from the local Army Reserve Unit and a bugler to play Taps. The Music team digs a hole and lays the "departed" therein. Then the Bugler plays Taps and the Chorus sings it again, first altogether and then again with our best lead and the rest of the chorus on "Loo".

The current BOTY stoops reverently to grab a handfull of dirt to sprinkle into the grave followed by each member present in order of seniority, i.e., date of joining the chapter. A singing of the "Irish Bessing" by the Chapter closes the ceremony.

Thereafter, we drink beer with a variety of sandwiches followed by pie and coffee and singing by all the chapter quartets.

We have these ceremonies as often as necessary but they are so much fun that sometimes we bury a good one.

The Island City Chorus will be singing in Association Régional de Chorale de l'Île de Montréal (ARCIM)'s special category for the second time.

We will be singing:

• Orange Colored Sky
• You'll Never Walk Alone
• How Deep Is The Ocean?
• Sixteen Tons
• Steppin' Out