As we charge ahead in the days leading up to year’s end, activity for the Nassau Mid- Island Chapter remains at a high level with serious preparations leading to some traditionally scheduled events, our appearance on one of the world’s great stages, a performance new to us on our singing schedule, as well as a very special Interchapter honor that will allow us to host our brothers in song for night of pure joy. Invitations are out to local chapters and the date of October 29 has been set aside for the very special barbershop evening in our rehearsal hall, a setting blessed with acoustics to make just about everything sound just a little bit better. We KNOW how that sound is relished. We’ve been privileged to host such area Interchapters in Winthrop Hall in the recent past. Add to that the pride by participating quartets and choruses reflected by smiles of satisfaction as well as a hall filled with shared pleasure, and you have all the ingredients for a “wow” time. But that’s only part of what’s on tap for the busy weeks ahead. Added, will be our presence, Nov. 18, on the stage of prestigious Carnegie Hall, to sing during a barbershop night of song. On our October agenda, we’ve also scheduled a reappearance at the Fall Fair offered by the City of Long Beach — this year more significant what with the significant recovery from “Sandy.” Along with that, there’s a new “book” with what will assuredly be a happy ending (and beginning) now set for a Long Island library in West Hempstead. Its patrons and other attendees will hear the four- part harmonies offered by our chapter that has been serving the local community for more than 60 years. The Long Island Harmonizers are anticipating doing “their thing” there during December. As we look past those dates, rehearsing Frosty the Snowman” might appear to be pushing the envelope for “brrrrrr time,” but before we know it, our annual appearances in local hospitals to sing for patients and staffs, will be letting us provide holiday uplifts the way we know them best. These activities and others are reasons we are so energized for our Fall and wintertime ahead.
Transcript
As we charge ahead in the days leading up to year’s end, activity for the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter remains at a high level with serious preparations leading to some traditionally scheduled events, our appearance on one of the world’s great stages, a performance new to us on our singing schedule, as well as a very special Interchapter honor that will allow us to host our brothers in song for night of pure joy. Invitations are out to local chapters and the date of October 29 has been set aside for the very special barbershop evening in our rehearsal hall, a setting blessed with acoustics to make just about everything sound just a little bit better. We KNOW how that sound is relished. We’ve been privileged to host such area Interchapters in Winthrop Hall in the recent past. Add to that the pride by participating quartets and choruses reflected by smiles of satisfaction as well as a hall filled with shared pleasure, and you have all the ingredients for a “wow” time. But that’s only part of what’s on tap for the busy weeks ahead. Added, will be our presence, Nov. 18, on the stage of prestigious Carnegie Hall, to sing during a barbershop night of song. On our October agenda, we’ve also scheduled a
reappearance at the Fall Fair offered by the City of Long Beach — this year more significant what with the significant recovery from “Sandy.” Along with that,
there’s a new “book” with what will assuredly be a happy ending (and beginning) now set for a Long Island library in West Hempstead. Its patrons and other attendees will hear the four-part harmonies offered by our chapter that has been serving the local community for more than 60 years. The Long Island Harmonizers are anticipating doing “their thing” there during December. As we look past those dates, rehearsing Frosty the Snowman” might appear to be pushing the envelope for “brrrrrr time,” but before we know it, our annual appearances in local hospitals to sing for patients and staffs, will be letting us provide holiday uplifts the way we know them best. These activities and others are reasons we are so energized for our Fall and wintertime ahead.
PAGE 2 TOOSDAY TOONS OCTOBER-2013
Toosday Toons A monthly publication of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, a nonprofit, charitable and educational society. Chapter meetings are held 8 pm on Tuesdays at Winthrop Hall, Church of the Advent, 555 Advent St., Westbury, 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.
Bob Heim, Eva Milauskas Bill Vesely, Marvin Goodman
Nameplate Design
Dan Gilmartin, Chapter Webmaster
Chapter Census (as of September 30, 2013)
Life 1 Regular 32 Senior (L) 18 Senior (N) 5
Total 56
www.longislandharmonizers.org
F R O M T H E CORNER OFFICE Jon Ayers, President
One of the many benefits of being part of the Barber-shop Harmony Society is that it is truly a worldwide organization, either directly in North America or in oth-er parts of the world by affiliation. This opens up inter-esting opportunities to perform, compete, and educate that otherwise just wouldn’t happen. Westchester County, for instance, was invited to sing in China a couple of years ago, and before that, Manhattan and Huntington North Shore spent a week in St. Peters-burg as guests of the Russian government. As one of the participants in that venture, I can honestly report that it was an experience I’ll remember the rest of my life. I’ve had the good fortune to sing in many other places in this country, and every one of them has been special. Each one required some effort on my part. I had to be prepared to be at the top of my game and devote both the time and money, and I’ve never regretted it. Ever. We have before us another such opportunity. While the time and money required are small, the experi-ence of singing in one of the world’s most prestigious concert halls is one to be treasured. Since 1891, eve-ry famous musician or musical group in the world has preceded us on that stage. For a small suburban chapter like ours, it’s almost unheard of, and it’s liter-ally been dumped in our lap. We didn’t do anything to earn it, it’s a gift. On the other hand, I think we have an obligation, and that is to give that audience the very best performance we’re capable of giving, and make the people who made it possible for us to be there believe they made a good decision when they chose the Long Island Harmonizers.
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
(OCCASIONALLY)
OCTOBER-2013 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 3
Outrunning The
Johnstown Flood
I started preparing and sending out an extended planning schedule years ago. As a band director in the public schools, I had a plan book and deadlines. The biggest deadline was to have your students ready to perform by the date set in the district calendar. It enforced a discipline on all the music teachers. Some of my fellow barbershop directors laugh at the detailed planning I put into my schedule. Yes, it needs revision almost weekly but it keeps us on track. Every time we have a singout, a revision is required to prepare for that performance. Presently, we have to shift some focus in readiness for our Carnegie Hall performance while, at the same time, continuing our preparations for the Holiday season and our annual show. If we had not started “Frosty” in anticipation of the Holiday season, we would not be able to get all our songs prepared in time. I remember cramming for tests in college. Cramming ten songs in at the last minute rarely works. Even if you manage to get through one show by the skin of your teeth, the music rarely stays in your head for future reference. I study my music daily. As a pianist, I have to work my fingers daily or I lose flexibility. As I grow older, it takes me more time for my memory to turn on, so I
look to the future. When you or any member of a section come ill prepared for a work session, not only does it slow your progress and the group’s progress, it makes a rehearsal less satisfying for everyone. It also makes the singers who know their parts feel less confident that they are singing correctly. Wrong chords are produced and difficult to tune. When the notes are not prepared properly at home by some singers, the director tries to play a game of catch up by teaching the notes at rehearsal, thereby wasting valuable time that should be spent on interpretation and performance. It also discourages the dedicated singers who come prepared.
No one outran the Johnstown flood. It was the greatest disaster of the era. People ignored warnings which came too often and, until the end, unfounded. They climbed up the mountains and many did survive but many did not. I would ask that you stay ahead of the tide and work in a consistent manner. Truthfully, no director wants a singer who comes unprepared. They may love you dearly as a person, but directors invest too much effort and time in our personal preparation that we anticipate a great rehearsal, a great performance and a great thrill!. Burnout occurs when directors experience disappointment too often. We dangle carrots to get people’s attention and commitment. If Carnegie Hall is not an enticement, nothing can be! We owe it to the legacy that Carnegie Hall represents to work hard for the honor to stand on that stage.
PAGE 4 TOOSDAY TOONS OCTOBER-2013
Harold Verity has always been one of the hardest workers in our chapter. (Seeing him flipping around those heavy risers and audio equipment is awesome.) Joining us in 1995, within three years he became recipient of the “Barbershopper of the Year” award. It was a truly meteoric rise, and Hal has continued that admirable drive for excellence right up to the present. (By Jove, I think he has found the “Fountain of Youth.”) Born in 1953, Harold graduated from Baldwin High School in 1971 and shortly thereafter went to work for Sanitary District #2 in the Town of Hempstead . (Heavy work was no challenge with Hal’s work ethic.) He says that in 1974 he made the best move in his life by marrying Lois. (A fine example of “behind every successful man is a good woman who works just as hard.”) The Veritys have three lovely daughters, Deborah, Karen and Ellen, all now married, who have blessed Hal and Lois with three grandchildren (so far!). Karen was a member of the Sweet Adelines in high school and together with Lois’ uncle Art (who was a former member of Nassau Mid-Island) generated Harold’s interest in barbershopping. (Karen should have gotten a “Woman of Note award for bringing him into the chapter). Harold has held many offices in the chapter including President, Music Vice President, Show Chairman (for 5 years), and Tenor Section leader (I’m getting tired in listing all his activities) and is a recipient of numerous meritorious awards. He has also “sweet talked” his wife into giving a summer party for the chapter the past several years, in becoming ticket chairperson at many of our annual shows, as well as being cake-maker at music committee meetings and GloWorms rehearsals. (continued in column at right)
Outside of barbershopping, Harold is very active in his church, and, for the past three years has served as the church treasurer. (The pastor recently raised his eyebrows when he heard of the Verity’s recent cruise to Alaska. Ha. Ha.) Actually he made some spending “dough” by working part time in a retail bread store located in Baldwin. (Couldn’t pass that one up.) Aside from his pleasure in singing in the chorus, Harold enjoys boating, fishing, doing home repairs, dabbling on the computer, visiting family and “just life in general.” Harold has done so many things for the chapter, even in addition to those listed, and we are very fortunate, for sure, to have him with us.
TAG(S) , YOU’RE IT, WHEN YOU’RE GAME
Love ‘em or loathe ‘em (yes, some barbershoppers, if pressed for an opinion, find them just too brief), four-part musical “tags,” often sung by far more than four voices gathered together for close harmony, will continue to play a substantial role in member fun. Finding them to enjoy is computer clickable in reaching a number of worthwhile sites. Among them is http://www.barbershoptags.com/ where more than 2,000 freely downloadable barbershop tags can be pulled up (with even / more of them supplied each day). Many of them come complete with learning tracks, sheet music - even video clips of them being performed. Another greatly visited site is surely http://www.barbershoptags.com/ClassicTags.pdf where 125 classic tags in singable form are enticingly at your fingertips. ENJOY!!!
HAL VERITY
OCTOBER-2013 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 5
PAGE 6 TOOSDAY TOONS OCTOBER-2013
Correctly match the letters next to the names listed with facts numbered below: Answer on page 12. A. Will McCoy B. Joel Fairman C. Bill Vesely D. Tony Leone E. Wayne Lazar F. Joe Massaro. 1. One hobby of his is making stained glass
lamps and windows. 2. This member's son is a Jesuit Priest with a
doctorate in Theology. 3. He came to us following a business career
as an investment banker as well as owner and CEO of several radio stations.
4. The Lake at Eisenhower Park has been perfect for his hobby of sailing radio-controlled boats.
5. This member retired as a Colonel in the military reserves.
6. This Mid-Islander is a former neuro-psychologist at North Shore Hospital.
BOB ROTH, DAVE D’ANTONIO, And (Former Member), DON PARIS
What did William Kratt Sr., the inventor and driving force behind the chromatic pitch pipe so highly favored by barbershoppers (and still being produced after 80 years), and Thomas Edison, whose genius produced the first commercially practical incandescent light, have in common aside from their inventiveness? Well, as good fortune would dictate, when the senior Kratt first came to America from Germany, the eager teenager was hired as a lathe operator by the gifted Edison, who not only encouraged the youngster, but provided him with his first tools.
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING
The “Boater,” headgear long associated with barbershoppers everywhere, gets its name because it was traditionally worn by Venetian gondoliers. In vogue from the 1880s all the way through to the 1930s and 40s, it was from Italy that the hat spread rapidly around the world, before slowly loosing its presence following WWII. Boaters were popular as casual summer headgear in the late 19th century and early 20th century, especially for boating or sailing, thus the name. They were supposedly worn by FBI agents as a sort of unofficial uniform in the pre-war years and also worn by women as well.
How about that?
OCTOBER-2013 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 7
RE-TIRE? THINK AGAIN
Strange word, “retire.” It certainly cannot be defined as a time to “tire” again. Look around in today’s wonderful world of barbershopping. It unquestionably underscores time and time again that age is, indeed, simply a number, and that members chasing and reaching their nineties can and do display the same tireless passion for four-part harmony as our society’s younger and newer devotees to the art form. With that maturity and bonus moments to hone vocal talents comes another ingredient so important as a building block to a bright future — inescapable experience as problem solvers, innovative thinkers, and idea sources. We are blessed to have you part of that energy.
From “The Orange Spiel” John Alexander, Editor
We sing America The Beautiful. It includes the lyrics “purple mountain majesties.” You may have wondered about the majesty of several mountains, the majesties of a single mountain, or even the majesties of several mountains. All are wrong. The truth is that the lyrics refer to a flower, genus Heuchera, common name PurpleMountain Majesty (also known as Coral Bells). This semi-evergreen forms a small mound of heart shaped, lobed, deep-purple leaves with silver marking and panicles of white globular flowers on purple stems in summer. The plural is Purple Mountain Majesties.
PAGE 8 TOOSDAY TOONS OCTOBER–2013
One of those how-many-does-it-take-to-change-a-light bulb jokes that caused public relations account execs to smile years ago, drew its humor because of the extraordinarily large number of people involved. There was one p.r. person assigned to draft the news release about the bulb, someone else to check if the bulb was new, another person to check calendar dates for a press conference, someone to write a news alert, someone else to develop a media list and alert them,another to buy a backup bulb, just in case the bulb in question blew out, and so it went. Humor aside, one point was abundantly clear. Whatever the case, there is often lots of planning involved, and often a great many shouldering the load. The application to barbershop efforts is apparent in many things we do. Purpose is one of them; procrastination can NOT be on that list. Why does the American International Toy Fair, the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere, generally take place in February, ten months before youngsters are pestering parents for hot items? Why does readiness for the next Macy’s Day
parade begin a day after marchers take off costumes and those giant floats are uninflated? You know the answer. It’s all linked to necessary planning. Long lead times for execution come into play. Remember, plans more often than not
involve some special juggling. In our case, as with other chapters, lucrative singout possibilities that suddenly surface, can require needs to brush up and refresh memories concerning older repertoire and focus a bit less on what’s brand new. It takes a deft approach by our director. Words of caution come from a piece run in the November/December 2012 issue of The Harmonizer. It’s correctly pointed out that planning isn’t action. “Be clear about what you are doing, just to get to the actual action as quickly as you can,” says the writer. A smart approach, especially when few individuals are shouldering a big load, is to divide and conquer. Break large tasks down into smaller ones with others at the wheel. And place time-lines on everything. Set goal dates and then backtrack to set when things leading to them should be accomplished.
PLANNING IS BRINGING THE FUTURE INTO THE PRESENT SO THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW—Alan Lakein
ROADMAPPING A BARBERSHOP PLAN Bob Heim, Chapter Vice President
Marketing and Public Relations
OCTOBER-2013 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 9
IS MUSIC UNIVERSAL? from makingmusicmag.com
When people listen to music from other cultures, they often find it uncomfortable or less pleasant, or they may not “get it.” Most modern musicologists would say that this is because the way we make music and respond to it is learned, and therefore specific to our culture. Yet, many people, including noted composers, claim that music is universal and transcends culture and language barriers. After all, combinations of notes with simple frequency ratios are in a sense natural and sound harmonious. The ancient Greeks thought music was universal because of its ties to mathematics. Plus, all cultures make music and no one knows why. When people listen to music from other cultures, they often find it uncomfortable or less pleasant, or they may not “get it.” Most modern musicologists would say that this is because the way we make music and respond to it is learned, and therefore specific to our culture. So, is music universal and innate, or is it learned? And is our emotional response to music instinctive or a cultural convention? Music psychologists have come up with all kinds of experiments to test the universality of music. In 2004 Josh McDermott of the Center for Neural Science at New York University and Marc Hauser of Harvard University put tamarin monkeys in a V-shaped cage, offering them a choice of sitting near harmonious or dissonant musical chords, and found that the monkeys didn’t have a preference. Neuroscientist
Daniel Bowling of Duke University claims that major and minor scales have intrinsic emotional associations because their sound spectra are close to happy and sad speech. Tempo can also be seen as an emotional signpost; happy music is often faster. This theory was tested by Stefan Koelsch of the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany. Western piano music was played for people from the remote region of Cameroon, many of whom had never heard Western music. They correctly identified the emotional intent of the music significantly more frequently than if by chance. In another test of musical cultures, music psychologist David Horn of Ohio State University played a Balinese tune for Balinese and American musicians. When the music was stopped, the Balinese were better able to guess the next note, but Americans did better than if by chance. So, what does all this say about the universality of music? McDermott believes that our concepts of musical structure are limited by our own auditory perception because we can only hold a certain number of pitches in mind at once. But, he still feels there is something universal about music. “Every culture that we know of has a genre of music geared toward infants,” he explains. “Music tends to always be used to signify important events within a culture, such as weddings or funerals, and always seems to accompany religious rituals.” He says that music’s role might primarily “reflect the deep connection between music and emotion.” - Adapted from “Harmonious Minds: The Hunt for Universal Music,” by Philip Ball, New Scientist, May 10, 2010 and Printed in “Orange Spiel” — Jacksonville, FL Chapter, BHS
PAGE 10 TOOSDAY TOONS OCTOBER–2013
An off-camera barbershop quartet sang the theme song and hummed the background music in early episodes of this popular half-hour ABC-TV (black and white) TV show loosely based on the life of a famous fron-tier marshal of the" Wild West." Name the real-life lawman, title of the TV series and the show's star. (Answers on Page 12)
The Seattle Letter Carriers’ Vocal Quartet
Circa 1925
(Wonder How They Carried Their Tunes?)
‘TWAS EVER THUS...
OCTOBER-2013 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 11
Joe Cerutti, who holds Nassau Mid-Island Lifetime Chapter membership in appreciation for his contributions to our organization’s musical growth, has joined the music education team of the Barbershop Harmony Society, with responsibilities to oversee Youth in Harmony and chorus director development activities. Cerutti will oversee a crucial portfolio of Society activities, including: Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Contest International Youth Chorus Festival Youth Harmony Camps and Harmony
Explosion Camps Music educator outreach Chorus
director development “These activities are dead square in the center of Joe’s experience,” said Society CEO Marty Monson, “Especially in the ways they involve music professionals outside the barbershop world. Joe will make a great ambassador and professional bridge to educators trying to sustain and expand vocal music for young singers. He has the professional depth, the track record, and the contagious enthusiasm that draws people to become part of some great musical experiences.” “Joe makes things happen,” said Monson. “He’s a shining example of the way that immersion in the barbershop world at a young age can transform a man’s life. His background as a college-age barbershop singer has launched a music career filled with bringing this joy to thousands of men and women of all ages. As part of our music education team, we will count on him to innovate ways to involve singers,
educators and communities in making the music that is making a difference.” Cerutti’s most visible roles have been as Musical Director of the international medalist Alexandria Harmonizers men’s barbershop chorus and the Pride of Baltimore women’s chorus of Sweet Adelines International. He is primary clinician and president of the No Borders Musical Consort concert series at Carnegie Hall, which gathers young singers from around the world to sing with barbershop idols in the renowned New York City concert hall. He will primarily reside and work in Alexandria, Va. and will continue in all his other roles. (Our added congratulations, Joe.)
TIME FOR BARBERSHOPPING??? (AS IF YOU NEED PROMPTING!!!)
PAGE 12 TOOSDAY TOONS OCTOBER–2013
Chorus singers not only harmonize their voices, they also synchronize their heartbeats, a study suggests. Researchers in Sweden monitored the heart rates of singers as they performed a variety of choral works. They found that as the members sang in unison, their pulses began to speed up and slow down at the same rate. Writing in the journal, Frontiers in Neuroscience, the scientists believe the synchronicity occurs because the singers coordinate their breathing. Dr Bjorn Vickhoff, from the Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University in Sweden, said: "The pulse goes down when
you exhale and when you inhale it goes up. "So when you are singing, you are singing on the air when you are exhaling so the heart rate would go down. And between the phrases you have to inhale and the pulse will go up. If this is so then heart rate would follow the structure of the song or the phrases, and this is what we measured and this is what we confirmed. "When you exhale you activate the vagus nerve... that goes from the brain stem to the heart” They found that the more structured the work, the more the singers' heart rates increased or decreased together. Slow chants, for example, produced the most synchronicity.
Answers to Boo Who: A-5, B-3, C-4, D-1, E-6, F-2
CHAPTER QUARTETS A erGloWorms Harold Verity, Tenor Bob Miraglia, Lead
COAST-TO-COAST MUSICAL TALENT - (Left to right) Maurice Debar, Musical Director of the Long Island Harmonizers, and Jon Ayers, President, Nassau Mid-Island Chapter; are shown with Ron Kritzman, Arlington Heights, IL chapter member; Nassau Mid-Island vocal coach Scott Brannon; Bob Lappin, bass with the Santa Rosa Redwood Chordsmen's Voices of Califor-nia Chorus, Santa Rosa, CA and his wife, Jan Lappin, director of a barbershop chorus on the west coast. The coast-to-coast representatives were pictured at a mid-August rehearsal of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter in Baldwin, NY.
MEN OF LETTERS - Michael Mascari (center), AHRC- Nassau’s Executive Director, recently received a charitable contribution presented on behalf of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter by President Jon Ayers (left) and VP Chapter Development George Seelinger. The gift, to enrich the lives of local-area children and adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, was from a portion of proceeds from NM-I’s 63rd Annual Show.
AND FROM OUT OF THE DRAWER.. Dorothy Kammerer, wife of Mid-Island Chapter bass, Gene, applies some show-biz makeup to her hubby’s face in 1987.
