The Pitch Pipe - January 2009 - (Page 27) as lead in 4 FOR THE SHOW. A member “Sweet Adelines Showcase,” had been published through cooperation with a who knew Bette convinced her to become music publishing house. There had been our director. Sweet Adelines in Detroit an earlier folio published privately, but all must have been a little glitzier, because the four parts in that earlier folio were notated next year we were decked out in turquoise in the treble clef. lamé, rhinestones, and dyed-to-match In my first chorus competition we shoes. 1960 was also the year Sweet sang two songs from the new folio, both Adelines raised the number of members ballads: Love Me And The World Is Mine required from 12 to 20, and we managed and Time After Time (not the same song to recruit enough new members to stay in Melodeers sings). I believe we placed business. either last or next to last. Today we have large choruses with I did not have a formal music educamembers that commute long distances in tion, but I had endured years and years of order to sing with those choruses. Fifty piano and organ lessons and had been a years ago we had three or four small chochurch organist. I could play by ear and ruses in place of today’s large chorus. sight read anything put in front of me. I Today’s network of freeways and interhad a serious handicap, though — perfect state highways makes it easy to travel long pitch. Many of our groups used men’s distances in short periods of time, but back arrangements. When music written in the then we had to take surface streets. What key of Bb was passed out, members were we’ve lost in the process is the camaaccustomed to raderie and fellowship singing it, say, in gained from interAs I stood on the stage in Eb. My perfect chapter activities. In Hawaii to receive my 50-year mempitch did not allow the area where I live bership, I was overwhelmed by the me to do this! If I (San Diego County) audience response. At that moment didn’t know the there are two choI realized that no one in the world is song, and the paper ruses — one large more blessed than I. Real women, said my note was and one small. The singing real harmony, and having “D,” I had to sing next closest chorus is real fun only scratches the surface. “D,” not an “A” in Orange County, 80 The extended family I have gained four steps higher. miles north. Fifty over the years through my memberSo I went to work years ago there were ship in Sweet Adelines means more transposing music six choruses in San to me than I can possibly put into for my own use. Diego County. We words. Each one of you has touched Though I knew used to attend each my life in some way, even if only by nothing about other’s parties and singing my music. So I say 'thank music theory, at support each other’s you,' and my wish for you is that least as taught in shows and afterglows. your affiliation with Sweet Adelines college, I did have We didn’t sing as brings you as much joy and love as a solid understandwell back then it has afforded me. ing of chord strucbecause we didn’t — Joni Bescos ture and harmonic talk about vocal proprogressions. I didduction, but we were n’t just transpose my part, I did the whole real women singing real harmony and havchord — thereby gaining an understanding ing real fun! Weekly rehearsals always of how barbershop arrangements were included time for tag quartets and woodconstructed. I bravely began attempting shedding. Not only were those activities my own arrangements, and the following fun, they helped to train our ears to the year the chorus sang one of them –Stars techniques of barbershop style. Are the Windows of Heaven– in competiFifty years ago professional musition! cians had a very low opinion of barberBy the spring of 1960 we also had a shop singers because they believed that we new chorus director. Bette and Joe Sipots purposely taught our singers to sing incorhad moved to Southern California from rectly. We were afraid of vibrato because the Detroit area, where he sang in a top we didn’t want to permit anything that quartet and she directed a chorus. For colcould destroy the characteristic lock and lectors of trivia, their eight year-old daughring of the chords we sang. Those profester Robin would win a gold medal in 1984 Continued on page 29 50-Year Members * Attended the 2008 International Convention and Competition in Honolulu, Hawaii * Janet H. Adams, Greater Harrisburg Chapter, #19 Jo Atkinson, Dundalk Chapter, #19 * Joni Bescos, Rich-Tone Chapter, #25 * Jackie Laws Bishop, Bay Area Showcase Chapter, #12 Yvonne L. Cody, Greater Harrisburg Chapter, #19 * Marilyn L. Conlan, Verdugo Hills Chapter, #11 Jane E. Cullum, Dundalk Chapter, #19 Rosalie De Sena, Member-at-Large * Lou Ann Dykstra, City of Lakes Chapter, #6 Sally A. Eggleston, Cedar Harmony Chapter, #22 * Margaret J. Elver, Member-at-Large Barbara J. Fear, North Metro Chapter, #16 * Shirley F. Fine, O.K. City Chapter, #25 Lori M. Fodor-Reiner, Chapter-at-Large, #12 Marge Grau, Spirit of the Gulf Chapter, #9 Frances H. Griffith, Dundalk Chapter, #19 Susan R. Gunas, Millennium Magic Chapter, #11 June Hernesmaa, Chapter-at-Large, #12 Julie C. Horn, Rochester Chapter, #16 * Shirley L. Janssen, Velvet Hills Chapter, #8 Carole Ann Kagle, Dundalk Chapter, #19 Linda J. Keutzer, Member-at-Large Joanne Kick, Spirit of the Gulf Chapter, #9 * Gloria Kuchenbecker, Pacific Sound Chapter, #13 Catherine M. Long, Dundalk Chapter, #19 Shirley F. Mackie, Chinook Winds Show Chapter, #26 * Betty A. Meinholz, Toast of Tampa Show Chapter, #9 Norma A. Mundstock, Gem City Chapter, #4 Libby M. Petrovsky, Women of Note Chapter, #9 * Joan Ray, Chapter-at-Large, #12 Patricia M. Reynolds, Heart of New Jersey Chapter, #15 Ruby M. Rhea, Member-at-Large * La Nell Rockwell, Velvet Hills Chapter, #8 Mary L. Ryberg, Zumbro Valley Chapter, #6 * Anne Seidel, Crystal City Chapter, #4 * Nancy L. Smith, Greater Harrisburg Chapter, #19 Jeanie Spong, City of Lakes Chapter, #6 Rita C. Taylor, Chapter-at-Large, #26 Zoe Thompson, Chapter-at-Large, #13 * Pat Tyree, Velvet Hills Chapter, #8 * Carolyn vanBenthuysen, South Valley Sound Chapter, #11 Edith K. Whitney, Liberty Belle Chapter, #1 Jan Wyckoff, L.A. South Towns Show Chapter, #11 “ ” January 2009 27
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