REGINA GOLDEN HARVEST Barbershop Chorus

Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America

# Sharp Notes #

Publication of the Regina Golden Harvest Chorus

Golden Harvest Chorus meets most Monday Evenings, 7:30-10:00 at
Knox Metropolitan United Church, corner of Victoria and Lorne, Regina, Saskatchewan
Guests always welcome!

May/June 2001

We’re #1

Fifteen members of the Golden Harvest Chorus made the 10-hour trek to Fargo, North Dakota to compete in the divisional competition on May 4,5,6 – and what a weekend we had!

A great get-a-way for the chorus members, a chance to "hang out with the gang", sing, visit, sing, pick up some new barbershop CDs, see what the other choruses and quartets were up to, attend the district board meeting, meet other chapter presidents, hear some great choruses and quartets, eat, sing…

But not only was it a great weekend, and a great convention, but we won -- awards for our division and our plateau, and the Chord Jesters won both the Northwest division quartet and the Northwest Division Novice quartet awards. Way to go!

Fargo

Three vans of singers ventured off into the early morning light – one on Thursday morning and the other two on Friday morning, bound for Fargo, North Dakota. A couple of gas stops, several coffee stops and meal stops, and 10 or so hours later we arrived at the Days Inn in Fargo.

Our foursome – Jack Boan, Vic Goertzen, Elaine and I – headed out on the Thursday so that I would be in Fargo in time to attend the District Board meeting on Friday afternoon.

The other 11 – Dave Pearce, Bill Quick, Rod Schlosser, Wayne Keys, Peter Vanderstelt, Doug Pederson and Lynn Lowes, Eric Neufeld, Ron Evans, John Leitch, Gord Gardiner – left Friday morning and arrived just in time for the Friday night quartet competitions.

And the final duo – Darrell Herauf and Connie – drove up from Rochester on Friday (Rochester is about 4 hours the other side of Fargo – Darrell wins the award for the most kilometers travelled – Regina to Rochester to Fargo back to Rochester and then back to Regina).

There was a preglow following the Friday night quartet competition – but after 10 hours of travelling, losing an hour on the clock and expecting an early Saturday wakeup call – I think most of us passed on the partying and headed for bed.

Saturday morning we all gathered in our tux’s and met at the University to make our final preparations for our 11:30 on-stage performance.

Finally, it was our time to walk down the hall, onto the stage and risers – and the curtain is opening. This is it – and a few short minutes later – we were able to breathe again as we relaxed and listened to the audience applaud.

Now we could relax for the rest of the weekend – or at least most of us could.

Since the Chord Jesters had won the Division quartet contest they were invited to sing on the Saturday night show – but Lynn’s voice was rapidly departing and he could barely talk. But in grand Chord Jester style they presented their Wizard of Oz extravaganza that left the audience (and Emcee) speechless.

Following the Saturday afternoon quartet finals and chorus critique, we gathered at Buffalo Wings and had supper with the chorus before heading back for the Saturday evening show and afterglow.

Sunday morning, we were all moving a little slower – and it was a cool, gusty, rainy drive home – but no deadlines for our arrival – so the trip was a little more leisurely. We hit some of the coffee shops and food stops that we had missed on the way down, and finally arrived home Sunday evening, a little travel weary, but having had a great convention weekend – and looking forward to the next time the convention’s back in Fargo.

We’re 40! ~ Chapter to celebrate 40 years

The Regina Chapter was originally chartered in 1961 as the Wheatland Chorus, but in 1994 the name was changed to the present Golden Harvest Chorus.

Now, 40 years later, we’re hosting Harmony Week in Regina and holding an open house and Birthday Bash on Monday June 4^th.

Harmony Week Schedule

• Monday 4pm Blue Sage at Accesscomm
• Monday 7:30pm Golden Harvest Chorus open house / Birthday Bash at the hall
• Tuesday 4pm Regina Chorus at Accesscomm
• Wednesday 4pm Prairie Gold at Accesscomm
• Thursday 4pm Chord Jesters at Accesscomm
• Friday 4pm representatives from Golden Harvest Chorus at Accesscomm
• Saturday
• Golden Harvest Chorus 9-10, 11-12. 3-4, 5-6
• Regina Chorus 10-11, 12-1, 4-5, 6-7
• Prairie Gold 1-3

Mayor proclaims Harmony Week in Regina

Several members from the Golden Harvest Chorus – Dave Pearce, Mark Coulter, Peter Vanderstelt and Bruce Fish; a representative from the Sweet Adelines; reporters from CJME; and our photographer Elaine were on hand as Mayor Pat Fiacco signed our proclamation and officially proclaimed June 4^th through June 9^th to be Harmony Week in Regina.

Several of us gathered in front of City Hall on Friday May 18th and then proceeded to the Mayor’s office for the official signing – and singing. We formed a quartet and sang for the Mayor and then had him join us as we sang My Wild Irish Rose.

Following the signing and the pictures and interviews, Doug Pederson joined the rest of Mixed Nuts and sang in several locations throughout City Hall to provide just a taste of the music that will be ringing throughout the city during Harmony Week.

Executive Meeting

We were scheduled to have our last executive meeting for the season on Sunday, May 27^th, but alas, we’re getting into that time of the year when other activities start to provide a scheduling challenge – and with the possibility that the Pats might be playing in the Memorial Cup – we decided to reschedule to Monday evening before the regular chapter meeting.

Unfortunately, we always seem to have more business to cover than we have time for so we were only able to give short shrift to a number of items, and even then ended up impinging on practice time.

The business items we did cover as follows:

• Travel expenses (gas) for Fargo worked out to $60 per person
• 2002 show date/locale confirmed – Darke Hall, April 21^st (Easter is March 31^st and we’ve tried to avoid conflicts with Symphony dates; by the way, Winnipeg show is April 22^nd featuring Acoustix and Saskatoon show will be April 27^th featuring Chordiac Arrest)
• will check chorus availability for a June taping session (this has been confirmed now for June 18^th)
• looks like we should have six members for Clear Lake MiniHEP (although at latest report I think Dave and Jane Pearce were the only ones there representing the chapter)
• Harmony week events all under control including a 40^th anniversary birthday bash for the chapter on Monday June 4^th; singing events at the malls and at Access Communications throughout the week; and a grand finale Sing-a-thon to raise awareness of Barbershopping and to raise money for the Early Learning Centre on Saturday
• Dave will approach schools regarding a contest to design a chapter logo
• One more bingo for the season – Wednesday June 6^th
• Chapter elections scheduled for June 11^th
• June 18^th will be our last practice for the summer – pizza and refreshments to follow the taping session?
• We will be entering a parade in the Buffalo Days parade again
• Stuart will approach Taylor Field to have us sing at a Rider Game
• Other items tabled to a follow-up meeting due to lack of time
• Thanks to Ken Cameron for taking minutes

I wish I had a small truck so I could take advantage of a contract hauling opportunity I saw mentioned the other day. Seems a water- garden company wants a load of frogs delivered, but they have to be delivered in a special bog-like container that will fit in a pickup truck's bed. They'll pay in food, which is exactly what the cat likes best!

For each load delivered, the company will provide one enormous home-baked casserole with a crust of middle-eastern flat bread. Mmmmmm!

That's right: a pita pie per pickup pack of puddled peepers

Show / Afterglow / Brunch

Well, our 2001 Annual show weekend is now behind us – and it was another great success.

The Chord Jesters were hilariously entertaining – as usual. Mixed Nuts did a great job. And our headliners -- Downstate Express – went far and beyond the call of duty. These guys sang in several high-schools, did interviews, attended our Friday night welcome, the Saturday night afterglow, the Sunday morning Brunch, did quartet coaching and then attended our Monday night guest night and did more chorus coaching. Our hats off to a great foursome – you’re welcome back in Regina any day.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to making this show weekend such a great success – but special thanks to our Show producer / chairman Lynn Lowes and our Public Relations VP Dave Pearce. Your tireless support, commitment and long hours are greatly appreciated.

A member of a seventeenth century French military unit used to entertain the troops by performing slight of hand tricks and other feats of prestidigitation. His grand finale was to make himself disappear in a cloud of vapour.

This caused one of his compatriots to exclaim, "Amazing! . . . There he goes, puff, the magic dragoon!"

Handing over the Reins

Well – it’s been an exciting three years since Lynn first approached me about taking on the role of Chapter president. And although I’m now looking forward to passing on the reins and becoming your Immediate-Past-President – I’m glad for the opportunities that this role has provided me over the past years.

I’ve been to COTS in Minneapolis, music and leadership sessions in Brandon and Verdun, board meetings in Fargo, dozens of chapter and committee meetings – and worked with an outstanding bunch of guys here in our chapter and throughout our Division and District. Together we have accomplished a great deal.

It has been an honour. I’m proud to have served as your Chapter President and to represent our Chapter – and I thank you.

Bruce Fish

Although Sarah had an abnormal fear of mice, it did not keep her from eeking out a living at the local pet store.

Northwest Division Contest

Those of you with sharp eyes may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned how we stacked up compared to the other choruses and quartets that were competing in our division – and that’s because we were the only ones competing in the Northwest Division contest. All the other choruses and quartets at the past competition weekend were either competing from Red Carpet division, or were competing in the International Quartet Preliminaries Harmony Week.

Music Director

It is with regret that I inform you that Ken Holzer has tendered his resignation as our Chorus Director. We wish Ken well in all his future endeavours.

Every Night is a Guest Night!

Invite a friend!

They’ll be glad you did!

Keep The Whole World Singing!

Ladies in Song

1. Who was paddled home?
2. Who was dead on the level?
3. Who found overalls in her chowder?
4. Who was seen home from Aunt Dinah's quilting party?
5. When all was said and done, who was the only one?
6. He came calling with a horseshoe in his pocket. Upon whom did he call?
7. He put on his Sunday suit of blue for her. Who was she?
8. She promised she would be his bride some day. Who was she?
9. In the evening he sat alone a-dreaming of her. Who was she?
10. Who was the Rose of Tralee?

A cow suddenly stopped giving milk. Her udder failure could have been attributed to her sorry love life. She got a bum steer. Depressed she curdled up with a Duke Ellington CD, a bottled of plum wine and she mooed indigo.

Answers to Ladies in Song:

1. Madeline.
2. Sal.
3. Mistress Murphy.
4. Nellie.
5. Margie.
6. Corabelle.
7. Emaline.
8. Sue.
9. Adeline.
10. "'Twas there I met Mary, the Rose of Tralee"

Intervals

You say you don’t know how to sing a Major second – of course you do. You sing it every time you sing Happy Birthday. The first few notes of each of the following well-known songs will help you with these intervals.

• Major Second up
  Doe-a-deer;
  Happy Birth-day
• Major Second down
  Ma-ry had a little lamb;
  Whis-tle while you work
• Minor Second up
  You must remember this ("As Time Goes By")
  I left my heart in San Francisco;
  Theme from Jaws (repeating two-note pattern)
• Minor Second down
  Shall we dance (The King and I);
  Ride a painted pony ("Spinning Wheel");
  I know a dark secluded place (Hernando's Hideaway")
• Major Third up
  From the halls of Montezuma;
  Have your-self a merry little Christmas;
  Well I come from Alabama ("Oh Susanna")
• Major Third down
  Swing low, sweet chariot;
  Good night, ladies;
  Summertime and the livin' is easy
• Minor Third up
  A time for us ("Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet");
  To dream the impossible dream
• Minor Third down
  Look at me ("Misty");
  I just called to say I love you;
  Oh-o say can you see ("Star Spangled Banner")
• Perfect Fourth up
  Here comes the bride;
  Day is done ("Taps" bugle call)
• Perfect Fourth down
  Born Free;
  My girl, talkin' 'bout my girl
• Tritone up
  Ma-ri-a (from West Side Story);
  Bo-oy, boy, crazy boy (flatted fifth or sharp Fourth) (from "Cool" in West Side Story)
• Tritone down
  European police siren (go see a foreign film)
• Perfect Fifth up
  Hey there, Georgy Girl;
  Yo-ee-oh (War chant of the Wicked Witch's guardsmen in Wizard of Oz)
• Perfect Fifth down
  Feel-ings, nothing more than feelings
• Major Sixth up
  My Bonnie lies over the ocean;
  Dash-ing through the snow ("Jingle Bells");
  N-B-C (network chime)
• Major Sixth down
  No-body knows the trouble I seen;
  Gonna lay down my sword and shield ("Down By The Riverside");
  0-ver there
• Minor Sixth up
  Cast Your Fate To The Wind first two notes (Black Orpheus theme)
  For Papa, make him a scholar (from "Matchmaker" in Fiddler On The Roof)
• Minor Sixth down
  Where do I begin ("Theme From Love Story")
• Major Seventh up
  Ba-li Hai will find you (South Pacific -first and Third notes)
• Major Seventh down
  [Research continues for this one]
• Minor Seventh up
  There's a place for us ("Somewhere" in West Side Story);
  Theme from Star Trek
• Minor Seventh down
  Theme from American In Paris
• Octave up
  Some-where over the rainbow
• Octave down
  Wil-low weep for me

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Articles in this bulletin do not necessarily reflect the views of the chapter. Unless carrying a byline, they are those of the editor. Items received may be referred to the executive before publication. All chapter officers and members are encouraged to submit articles to the Sharp Notes. Submissions will be credited to the author. Please address any comments, suggestions or submissions to the editor – Bruce Fish, 2327 Brodie Bay, Regina, Canada S4V 0V1 phone: (306) 761-2503; email: bfish@accesscomm.ca.

Current and back issues of the Sharp Notes can also be found at www.gpfn.sk.ca/culture/arts/gharvest.

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