page 2 toosday toons august-2014 - long …...my friend replied "it's funny you asked, i...
TRANSCRIPT
Well it IS August. The full impact of summer can knock us for a loop. It might be excusable to say I’m going to slow down a bit, put some things on hold, miss a few rehearsals, stop practicing those con-founded measures. Time to relax? Not OUR guys. There will be lots of singing ahead and we are ready to tackle August in big style. We’re ready to stand up (as our membership numbers increase) and be counted. And to be counted ON, even on the hottest days. The A/C is cranked up for our Baldwin rehearsals and we’re adding to our repertoire under the direction of a conductor who inspires us to keep on singing. We’re not fading (pass the water bottles please), we’re digging deeper to unearth talents we didn’t even know we had. So glory in these hot barbershopping days. Don’t think of the autumn leaves turning or the winter the
trees bare. Enjoy every minute of now. Just hydrate. The preparations never cease. For singouts soon up-coming and even for what will be a 65th annual show in the blink of an eye.
John Brolly is working diligently to add to our singout possibles. Not that we are asking you to abandon time away. This editor, thinking he had Wayne Lazar talking on his cell at home, recently found him on a moving bus headed to Budapest. But Wayne was soon back, raring to go. Feel proud of yourselves as barbershoppers
who preserve their art form and draw upon their energies to sing even during the summertime heat. Bravo. Want to switch to cooler climes? Australia is in the middle of their winter.
But hurry back.
PAGE 2 TOOSDAY TOONS August-2014
FROM THE CORNER OFFICE
Toosday Toons
A monthly publication of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, a nonprofit, charitable and educational society. Summertime Chapter meetings are held at 8:00 pm on Tuesdays at Calvary Protestant Church, 2801 Park Avenue, Baldwin, New York. All articles not accompanied by a byline have been written by the editor and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the members nor of the officers of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter. Opposing points of view are welcomed and encouraged. All editorial submissions must be received no later than the 21st of every month prior to the upcoming issue in order to be considered for publication.
Co–Editors Bob Heim
[email protected] Chiz Bell
Assistant Editor Bill Ruth
Editorial Assistant Wayne Lazar
Photography
Bob Heim, Eva Milauskas Bill Vesely
Design & Graphic Wizardry
Dan Gilmartin, Chapter Webmaster
Chapter Census (as of May 21, 2014)
Life - 1 Regular- 25
Senior (SL) -18 Senior (SN) - 9
Total - 53
www.longislandharmonizers.org
THE SUBTLE ART OF TINKERING
Toosday Toons A publication of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, a nonprofit, charitable and educational society. Summertime Chapter meetings are being held at 8:00 pm on Tuesdays at Calvary Protestant Church, 2801 Park Avenue. Baldwin, New York. All articles not accompanied by a byline have been written by the editors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the members nor of the officers of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter. Opposing points of view are welcomed and encouraged. All editorial submissions must be received no later than the 21st of every month prior to the upcoming issue in order to be considered for publication.
Editor Bob Heim
Editor-At-Large Chiz Bell
Assistant Editor Bill Ruth
Additional Contributing Team George Seelinger
Maurice Debar Wayne Lazar
Eva Milauskas Bill Vesely Bob Merrill
Design
Dan Gilmartin, Chapter Webmaster
Chapter Census (July, 2014)
Life - 1 Regular- 28
Senior (SL) -18 Senior (SN) - 9
longislandharmonizers.org
Looking for your best guess…. The quartet on the cover page wear distinctive baseball caps. Can you name the four professional baseball teams (l to r) represented by the pictured logos?
(Answer on page 8)
One day recently on the golf course, I was playing exceptionally well for me and I became aware of a subtle change in my swing that seemed to be resulting in increased distance and accuracy of my shots. At last! The breakthrough I'd been looking for years! What a day that was!
I could hardly wait until my next round when I'd put my new secret to work, but when I tried to replicate the new move I had found, every shot went awry! It seems the golf swing is a delicate balance of many coordinated moves and exaggerating any one aspect can throw the whole thing out of balance and ruin the result. I had discovered a good thing but in exaggerating it, a virtue became a fault.
Too much of a good thing. How often you've heard that cliché and how true it is. How often has Maurice told one or the other section that they're singing well and in tune, but TOO LOUD ! The secret to good ensemble singing is the blending of the voices so that none stand out. Of course, the melody should predominate, but the proper balance is critical.
When you're singing within your section and may not hear the other parts accurately, it's sometimes hard to know just how loud you should be. One of the benefits of quartet singing is hearing the balance and learning to adjust for a more pleasant sound. It doesn't happen overnight. Singing in a quartet can make you a better singer and I applaud those who stay late after rehearsals to be coached by Maurice in singing with small groups. I've already heard of the progress some of you are making. We're extremely fortunate to have a Director who's willing to devote the time and expertise to helping us all, for what helps even some of us can't help but make us all sound better. And that's a good thing we can't get too much of!
August-2014 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 3
Like everyone else, I had given up asking any friends to attend a barbershop rehearsal. Then I saw the master in action. Michael Creaney can talk to a wall and make it answer. He has inspired strangers to come to our rehearsals by directing the conversation to his joy of making music. The uniform does not sell barbershop music nor does the rehearsal techniques. It is the joy of singing. We owe it to our friends to share our love of four part singing, our passion and our friendship. We are cheating our friends by not making them aware of our passion and the rewards it has given us. How different my life would have been if Mike Cohen had not asked me decades ago to come to a rehearsal. A short time ago, I was having lunch with my wife at Panera. She pointed out a friend at another table. On his way out, he stopped with his luncheon companion to say hello. On a whim I blurted out "do you sing?" The man I didn't know said that he did not but my friend replied "it's funny you asked, I just joined the choir at church and I thought that after I got a little experience I would come to one of your practices." I was floored. I had shared my membership in a chorus but I never told him of the joy I got out of it. Our songs may be considered out of date by some people but these songs have messages and are fun to sing. Singing is never out of date. There is a singular joy in singing alone in the shower. There is a more intense joy blending your voice with other singers as the music comes alive and you create something
greater than yourself. But the greatest joy is reaching out to an audience. When you give of yourself and share your music with others, especially if you present it with an eager smiling face, then rainbows appear in empty space. There are many inspiring stories that have come about as a result of singing barbershop music. I'll share two. We used to go to the Seacrest Diner after rehearsals for a midnight snack and some intimate harmonizing. One night we met up with a cantor who had just finished his rehearsal at a local synagogue. We
had a ball singing Christmas carols until midnight! On another occasion, Steve Stowjowski suggested we go over to a lady sitting alone at a nearby table and serenade her. She was obviously touched, and Steve gave her his telephone number so she could learn of our future performances. Well after midnight, Steve got a call from the woman thanking him. She
had lost her son just a few weeks prior, and was really down: Our music had rekindled a spark of hope into her life. You never know how you touch the lives of other people with your songs. Maybe that's a good reason to know all the words and sing in tune. Don't take for granted what we do! Don't think you are imposing by asking people to join us. You are doing them a favor. They just don't know it yet. Ask twice, three times or more. It may be the 17th time that you finally get a "yes" and you will be rewarded knowing that you have may have made that person's life better. In the Jewish tradition that would be a "mitzvah."
A Scotsman Who Inspired Me
By Maurice Debar
PAGE 4 TOOSDAY TOONS August-2014
Good barbershop advice is found at a store location in Levittown, NY (3519A Hempstead Turnpike to be exact). The manager and owner, Sanjay Sehgal (Rick), says he came up with the name because he just liked how it sounded. Nothing more. He’s been in business selling athletic footwear and sportswear there for about four years. Whatever the reason for the signage, it attracts customers. It certainly piqued your co-editor’s interest as well. Rick (at right) was gracious enough to pose for the picture (above). BH
Puns for Educated Minds Ken Mettler
Selected From July 2014 Smoke Signals (Polk-Burnett County Bulletin)
St. Croix Falls, Wis.
Venison for dinner again? Oh deer!
A cartoonist was found dead in his home. Details are sketchy.
Haunted French pancakes give
me the crepes.
England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.
They told me I had type-A blood,
but it was a Type-O.
I changed my iPod's name to Titanic. It's syncing now.
I know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid, but
he says he can stop any time.
I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, and then it dawned on me.
This girl said she recognized me from the
vegetarian club, but I'd never met herbivore.
I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can't put it down.
I did a theatrical performance about puns. It
was a play on words.
I didn't like my beard at first. Then it grew on me.
All the toilets in New York’s police
stations have been stolen. As of now, it appears the police have nothing to go on.
CelebrationsCelebrations in Augustin August
Birthday wishes to: Ed Adreasson (2), Jim Schlegel (5), Jon Ayers (8), Caroline D’Antonio (15), Jack Szauta (22), and Hal Verity (29) Anniversaries: Charles and Marlene Muscanera (8) Glenn and Angela Howard (22), Joel and Linda Trent (25)
WE CALL THEM
“MASSARO-ISMS” (Joe Still Loves Them)
August-2014 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 5
I’m a barbershop fan. A devotee, a follower, dare I say a groupie? I became a fan of barbershop harmonies more that 10 years ago when I began dating tenor, Bob Heim. My first exposure to the Long Island Harmonizers was a Ladies’ Night Dinner at Verdi's, Westbury. My head was spinning as I was introduced to barbershoppers and their ladies while doing my best to remember everyone's name. When the Harmonizers assembled to perform I was totally amazed. It wasn't the sound of a traditional glee club or church choir, but four-part harmony in a style I’d never heard. Totally impressed by the sound...I was hooked. Bob was happy and invited me to upcoming singouts. I enjoyed the music, the exchanges of pleasantries, the warmth of the women supporting the members and the friendships that were formed. Our fellows work hard at their jobs (mailmen, dentists, CPA's, writers etc.) yet still manage to put aside time on Tuesday evenings for intense chorus rehearsals. After retirement from those careers, they may be volunteering at a hospital or finding more time to chase little dimpled balls out on a fairway...but they still set aside that special Tuesday night. Bob and I have learned through the years that the Harmonizers are an extension of our family. We socialize together and pray together for a good show and for the health of our members. I'm proud to follow Bob on his musical journey. Now if we could only do something about those That 70's Show uniforms.
SPEAKING OUT Guest Column
Eva Milauskas—Toosday Toons
THE HOT, HOT, HOT DAYS OF AUGUST
HOMEMADE HOT SAUCE
This recipe from one of our members’ spouses (who prefers to go nameless in case there is some sort of backlash) makes use of your garden's summer delights, is low in calories and is heart healthy, too. Ingredients: 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive
oil 2 medium peppers (Poblano,
Anaheim, or Green Pepper diced)
2 hot peppers (our recipe contributor likes Habanero) seeded and minced
4 garlic cloves pressed or minced 4 cups fresh tomato, peeled and diced -- seeded
(about 3 1/2 pounds) (she uses Italian plum tomatoes)
1 cup white vinegar 2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt or kosher salt 3 teaspoons sugar (or to taste) Directions: Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add onion, pepper, hot peppers and garlic. Stir until onion becomes soft about 4 minutes. Raise heat slightly and add tomatoes, vinegar, salt and sugar. Cook on high heat for 5 minutes. Stir while cooking. Then shut off the heat. Now the dangerous part: Let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes. It will still be hot. Carefully transfer to a food processor or blender. ( You may have to do this in 2 batches depending on the size of your machines.) Pulse or puree carefully until the mixture is totally pureed. Now place a fine metal sieve over a medium bowl. Pour the sauce mixture through the sieve. Push the sieve through the holes extracting as much liquid as possible from the vegetables. Discard solids. Let cool for 1 1/2 hours before refrigerating. Place in your favorite containers. (Makes about 3 cups of sauce.) Go ahead, give it a try.
INTRODUCING HORACE ECLIPSE
Written By Bill Ruth
Kudos to Steve Marrin (man of note) for bringing us another tenor to add to our award-winning tenor foresome (a little golf terminology). Horace Eclipse and his wife Espie (residents of Plainview) have four children; Rex, Grace, Kim and Marc; as well as three grandchildren: Xander, Alana and Connor (how did that Irish name and raised me slip in?). Horace was born in Moncanda and raised in Tarlac in the Philippines. He attended Moncanda Elementary School and was class valedictorian at the Central Institute of Technology. (Who has the temerity to say that tenors are not smart?) A the "University of the East" in the Philippines he earned a BS in business administration majoring in accounting and eventually became a CPA (Certified Public Accountant). He presently works for CRC Services as a "Surplus Lines Administrator" and plans to retire by the end of this year. (Hopefully to give him more time for barbershop singing.) Horace loves singing and dancing. (Rumor has it that he is giving private dancing lessons to Spence.) He assists as a church cantor and volunteers to sing at the Parker Rehab Center, as well as being a member of the Senior Citizen Club in Plainview. We are happy to have him with us as one of our new members.
UNDER THE LID Maybe you remember them. The underside of those Dixie Cup ice cream lids that carried pictures of movie stars and other notables. The photos covered by thin peel-off paper took a licking and kept on ticking for well over two decades. Today, there are many examples of surprises under lids, including Snapple’s “Real Facts” (number 855 pictured). A new batch of those facts, according to Snapple headquarters, are now being considered. We’ve suggested that whoever does them might include an unusual fact about barbershopping. You can see the “Real Facts” up on the web at Snapple.com. The underside of lids, bottle caps, etc. are yet another avenue of approach, of course, to foster awareness, just like a scratch-off lotto ticket might reveal match illustrations of a barbershop quartet to produce winners. (Has it been done?) I’m putting on my thinking cap (make that a boater) to explore this further. Let’s see where it goes.
PAGE 6 TOOSDAY TOONS August-2014
Dave D’Antonio, Joan Rampolla, Vinnie Collonna, Bob Roth, Steve Stojowski, Gene & Dorothy Kammerer, Mary McCoy, Sally O’Connor, Chiz Bell, Bill Schlageter, Joel Trent, Jack & Susan Szaluta. Bravos to all the spouses taking care of their loved ones.
August-2014 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 7
SIGNS YOU ARE A BARBERSHOPPER Posted by Becca Grimmer from barbershophq.com
And seen in the July/September issue of Promoter
We asked our Facebook friends to help us to answer this: You know you’re a barbershopper if _________. We had a overwhelming 152 (and counting) responses, so we decided to feature some of them here. 1. You attempt to blow a pitch on an Oreo cookie. 2. Your family vacations revolve around conventions. 3. A perfect 4-part harmonic moment sends your spirit soaring like nothing else ever could. 4. Your boss called you out for wearing your contest attire to work. 5. You have (at least) three best friends. 6. Your “inner music judge” comes out when listening to the radio. 7. Your license plate represents (you know what). 8. You harmonize with the ambient noise around you. 9. You know the words to more songs
from the early 1900s than from the 2010s. 10. You plan pregnancies around District and International events. 11. You already know who’s singing at your funeral. 12. You are willing to spend seven days away from your family, hearkening back to your college days, sleeping in dorm rooms, so that you can learn more about a passion that gives you zero financial benefit!
PAGE 8 TOOSDAY TOONS AUGUST-2014
Swipes & Tiddlys Chiz Bell—Chapter Historian
LOOK FOR ITS RETURN IN THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE
One of our members notes there are five Fridays and five Sundays in August, an extremely rare occurrence… Bill Schlageter has shelved his bicycling for a bit as he recovers from eye surgery… We’re told that The Music Man is being slated as a live musical broadcast project by NBC-TV. No air date has been set, but it’s expected to be sometime next year… Congrats to our web designer, Dan Gilmartin, named President of his Lions Club in Clayton, NC, and to Colleen and Dan’s musically-talented son, Brendan, who made the Dean’s list in his last semester at college prior to graduation… Bravos too, to all the winners at the International Convention in Las Vegas including the Gold Medal Vocal Majority Chorus and New Zealand’s Musical Island Boys, crowned 2014 International Quartet champions.
Answer to cover quartet question
on page 2. Left to right,
Carolina Mudcats, Brooklyn Dodgers, NY Yankees, NY
Mets.
We said “professional” (not necessarily MLB).
BITE‐SIZE FUN: Steve Stojowski sent along this photo of his two‐year‐old grandson Hugo enjoy‐ing his favorite new toy ‐‐ one of Steve’s old pitch pipes. Now, he says “I just have to convince him that it works best when only one note is blown at a me.”
Submitted by Bob Merrill for you identify the melody with this altered notation. Hint: It is the most recog-nized song in the English language after For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.
“The hand dryer in the men’s room said I had to sing Sweet Adeline to activate
the blower, but nothing happened.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: In researching a possible story fo r Toosday Toons about b arbershop-related tattoos to promote “awareness,” a small photo found on the internet led your editor to John Hirbour and, following a request for specifics, this heartwarming information sent to me along with additional pictures. Here’s what he graciously wrote to me. Bob Heim, Toosday Toons
My dad’s official name was John Peter Hirbour Sr. Growing up everyone called my dad Pete. He taught music his entire life at different elementary schools and in private lessons. When he married my mother he was a teacher and a union musician playing in the pit for local musicals etc… I was born in 1980 and as far back as I can remember my dad had been a babershopper. I’m not really sure
when my dad joined the Valley Chordsmen (Waterbury, CT), but I remember at an early age attending barbershop competitions in Montreal and other places.
When I was 15 I was a member of the Valley Chordsmen briefly and sang lead. My dad mostly sang bass throughout the years. Later during his tenure with the Valley Chordsmen he was the “practice tape guy” he would sit at home and make copies of all the different practice tapes for the different parts. I think in 10 years my dad must have gone through 10 different cassette/radio players because of all the copying and tapes he made. I think my mom knew all the barbershop songs better than some of the guys in the group! My dad would play his bass practice parts in the morning while he was shaving and anytime he was around the house.
My dad over the years of teaching in schools and private lessons taught piano, saxophone, clarinet, and flute. Music was always a part of my sister’s and my life. We both start playing piano in 1st grade. My sister played flute in elementary school and bass during high school. I played clarinet during elementary school, saxophone, and then guitar. We both participated in the local youth symphony growing up too (Nagautuck Valley Youth Symphony) .
The Valley Chrordsmen ( like other barbershop groups I’m sure) do a ton of outreach stuff to promote music in general and barbershop music specifically. I know the Valley Chordsmen has done work with Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, CT for youth outreach. Over the years I know my dad sang at weddings, funerals, and pretty much any life event of members of the group or their friends and family .
Around 1992 my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer. He underwent a 20 hour surgery to have a the tumor removed. Upon the completion of the surgery we were informed that he had an inoperable aneurism in his brain. The doctors told us it could rupture at anytime and said he
probably had 6 months to live. For the next 20 years my dad lived life to the fullest. My parents lived in Visalia CA for a few years where my dad was a member of the Mighty Oak Chorus, the local SPEBSQA group. After they moved backed to Waterbury, CT He was a member of several local Catholic choirs. My dad would leave at 7 am on a Sunday, come back home at 3 pm after singing in 3 - 4 different Catholic masses. Then he’d “watch golf” aka nap all afternoon. (My mom hates golf… :-) )
On 7/17/12 my dad suffered a stroke in the apartment he shared with my mother. He was in a coma for the entire week in the hospice unit at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, CT. During the week family and friends came to say good bye. My dad was not-responsive, but definitely could hear all of us. During the week my fiancé (at the time, now my wife) Heather and I decided to get memorial tattoos for my dad. She already had a hummingbird tattoo for her grandparents. On the morning of 7/21we had gone to a local tattoo parlor to make appointments and then went to the hospital to visit my dad. While in the room with my dad, we called my cousin Ann (she’s #22 of our 23 first cousins). She lives in AZ and had been unable to come back to say goodbye to my dad. (She gives tours of the Grand Canyon and didn’t have a cell phone signal until that Saturday (7/21). While Ann was saying goodbye I was working writing the obit for my dad. About 10 minutes after my cousin Ann hung up my dad passed. Apparently my dad was waiting to say goodbye to Ann.
My dad’s wake brought all sorts of people from the local music community as well as family and friends. The Valley Chordsmen sang the Lord’s prayer and a few other appropriate songs (can’t remember which). There was a gentlemen at my dad’s wake who my dad had taught in elementary school who was now retiring from teaching music himself. Several members of the choir at the church my wife and I attend (Congregational) were also there. They had sung with my dad in different choirs throughout the years, but never made the connection that he was my dad. It was really heartwarming to see all the people come out and remember my dad.
On 7/28 Heather and I went and got out tattoos with my youngest cousin Alyssa (Ann’s sister). She got a music note tattooed behind her ear. I had put together a rough idea for my tattoo from a bunch of clipart. The artists at our tattoo shop free-handed the script writing and stylized the clipart. He was a musician so it was nice not having explain what a saxophone looked like etc…. Heather found the design for her tattoo on the internet and picked my dad’s favorite color (blue) for it. It’s a combination of the treble and bass clefs made into a heart shape.
John sent a photo of himself, his tattoo and his sister’s tattoo, and it is at this link:
http://hirbour.org/images/babershop/ BH
August, 2014 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 9 THE TOUCHING STORY OF A FAMILY’S LOVE
FOR THEIR BARBERSHOPPING DAD AND HOW THEY HONORED HIM (IN AN UNUSUAL WAY)
CHAPTER QUARTETS
All In A Chord Bill Ruth, Tenor
Steve Brausa, Lead Bernie Genzer, Bass
George Seelinger, Baritone Contact: [email protected]
Cloud 9 Jon Ayers, Tenor
Vinnie Colonna, Lead John Brolly, Bass
George Seelinger, Baritone Contact: [email protected]
Just Duckie Harold Verity, Tenor Steve Brausa, Lead Maurice Debar, Bass
George Seelinger, Baritone Contact: [email protected]
Long Island Express Bill Ruth, Tenor
Gene Kammerer, Lead Joe Massaro, Bass Bob Roth, Baritone
Contact: bjr52@op mum.net
No Treble At All Bernie Genzer, Tenor
Bill Vesely, Lead Ken Wunsch, Bass
Wayne Lazar, Baritone Contact: [email protected]
Quatrain Bob Kelly, Tenor
Steve Marrin, Lead Al Fennell, Bass
Paul San no, Baritone Contact: [email protected]
PAGE 10 TOOSDAY TOONS August-2014
COOLING IT: Bill Ruth enjoys the air
conditioning that makes our rehearsals
comfortable in our Baldwin “home.”
FAMILY AFFAIR: Potential member
RayYeh showed off the vocal ability of his standup youngsters (one of them on a
chair) in singing N-MI repertoire.
RECONNECTING: John Scholfield, longtime friend
of George Seelinger, and responsible for introducing
George to barbershopping and the N-MI Chapter, is shown
sharing fond memories.
PROOF POSITIVE: Editor Chiz Bell checks
over his favorite publication.
Bobby Vetrano (right) of Long Beach was one of those on hand for barbershop entertainment at the N-MI Chapter’s singout in July at the Hewlett/Woodmere Public Library.