As often happens with barbershoppers, we found many opportunities to sing before our main duties were scheduled. As men, along with family and friends arrived, pitches were blown and songs rang forth. The joy was there from the start and the volume increased as more singers arrived.
We began our pregame concert outside of Gate C, near the Bob Feller statue and received hearty applause from those standing in line waiting for the gates to open. The set even included a tongue-in-cheek rendition of "Jingle Bells" in honor of the chilly temperature. When those gates did open, we moved our performance inside to the concourse, mostly to escape the substantial wind and occasional rain. Ah, May in Ohio!
The group gradually made its way around the concourse toward Gate A where we were to meet our guide for the trip to the field level. Naturally, there were pauses for singing along the way.
Once at the location where we were to enter the playing field, we continued our singing, to warm up our bodies as well as our voices. Then it was time to perform for the crowd.
The sky brightened a bit, the wind subsided a little and we proudly sang The Star Spangled Banner. For those of you who have not joined us for this and past performances at Progressive Field, it's difficult to describe the feeling of singing the anthem at such a venue. I think that all those who were there would agree that it is a very wonderful feeling. Let's see if we can get 50 or more singing when we return to the ballpark next year.
Below are some still pictures and one video from last Saturday. I have also included a video of our performance. I must give credit to my wife, and chief videographer, Sue, who bravely battled the wind gusts in section 311 to record this video. As you will notice, the combined force of the wind and the chorus ringing that final chord tore her loose from her moorings and swept her to the top of t
he scoreboard. As the fireworks explosion knocked her back to ground level, she stoically held on to the camera so that you would be able to view our performance. Thanks again, Sue.
Note: The anthem video will be found at the end of today's Bulletin issue.
Here is the "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" video.
Quartet News
On Wednesday, May 12, at 7:00pm, The Summit Chordsmen will be sin
ging at the Emeritus Assisted Living Center in Stow. This performance marks the second sing-out with new bass, Gary Young.
Clear Choice
ic cars, as well as historical trivia and prizes. Clear Choice will be strolling and singing in the hospitality tent from 2:00-3;00, and then will sing the National Anthem at 3:00, prior to the start of the game. The site of the game is Olga Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium.
Cory Hornish- 5/14
Dennis Siwik- 5/14
Tom Gentry- 5/23
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What O. C. Cash Forgot To Tell Us
Quartets: They're a heck of a lot easier to get into than they are to get out of.
You'll find the best advice for going into a contest on the label of a mayo jar; keep cool, but don't freeze.
Judge score sheets: There's no column titled "remarks."
Accept the truth. None of the truly great accomplishments of your chorus happened before you joined them.
Risers are a big waste of money. Why not buy a single tower for the director. You'd all see him better and, an added advantage, it would keep him from trying to become part of the first row of the chorus.
Their logic escapes me. They tell me to take "big steps" going up the scale and "small steps" coming down the scale. I tried it in the key of C. I ended up in the key of G.
Yes, we have our contests. But, the true soul of barbershopping does not rest in how well you sing it, rather, in how great it makes you feel while you're singing it.
Have reservations about joining a quartet in which the lead follows the other parts.
The shortest measurement of elapsed time is the time it takes a good woodshedding bari to; Hear the other three notes, identify the intended chord and deliver the missing correct note.
Why is it that 95% of all barroom tags you'll ever hear will be done at one-half the speed of the original quartet.
Getting To Know Us
Click on the "Featured Chorus" link in the Hot Links section at the top right of this Bulletin page to find out about the Texas Millionaires Chorus.
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Featured Videos
One Quartet Meets Another
