9
Newsletter of the Danbury Chapter, Yankee Division, Northeastern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society Meeting every Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. at Church of Christ, 90 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, Connecticut Volume 24 Number 4 www.madhatterchorus.org Turkey Day 2017 Mad Hatters Win Plateau A Title at District Contest By John Bradley Manchester, CT – For the first time in a very long time the Danbury Mad Hatter Barbershop Chorus won the Northeastern District Plateau A Championship at the 2017 NED fall District Convention and Contests at Manchester High School on October 28th. Plateau A represents choruses with 12 – 30 members. Singing “For All We Know” and a comedy version of “After You’ve Gone,” the chorus scored a combined 1,199 points, averaging 66.6, for a sixth place overall finish. The Vocal Revolution from Concord, MA, finished first with a total of 1.401 points with a 77.8 point average. Pre-contest calisthenics. Picture by John Bradley The Mad Hatters sang the same two songs in the spring’s Yankee Division competition, where they averaged 68.8. “I am very proud of the fact that this is the highest we have ranked since before I was born,” said Danbury music director, Joe Hudson. “Although the average went down, District contests are judged on a tougher scale,” Joe explained.. “The guys worked very hard and deserve that trophy. The last time the Mad Hatters competed in the District contests was in 2015, in Burlington, VT. There they averaged 62.3 and came in thirteenth. Joe Hunter joins the warm-up. Picture by John Bradley None of the Mad Hatter quartets competed in Manchester, but Take 4, comprised of Danbury/Bridgeport dual members did and scored a 65.9 average singing “Drivin’ Me Crazy” and “Oh! Look At Me Now.” Moments before taking the stage. Picture by John Bradey The Portland, Me, Downeasters qualified to represent the Northeastern District at the International Chorus Contest next July. Vocal Revolution from Concord, MA, won the District Chorus Championship. The Narragansett Bay Chorus won the NED Plateau AA Championship. Hartford Men in Harmony is the Northeastern District’s Most Improved Chorus. The Danbury Mad Hatter Barbershop Chorus Hatter Chatter

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Page 1: The Danbury Mad Hatter Barbershop Chorus Hatter Chatter€¦ · The presentation of barbershop music uses appropriate musical and visual methods to convey the theme of the song and

Newsletter of the Danbury Chapter, Yankee Division, Northeastern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society

Meeting every Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. at Church of Christ, 90 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, Connecticut

Volume 24 Number 4 www.madhatterchorus.org Turkey Day 2017

Mad Hatters Win Plateau A Title at District Contest

By John Bradley

Manchester, CT – For the first time in a very long time the Danbury Mad Hatter Barbershop Chorus won the Northeastern District Plateau A Championship at the 2017 NED fall District Convention and Contests at Manchester High School on October 28th. Plateau A represents choruses with 12 – 30 members. Singing “For All We Know” and a comedy version of “After You’ve Gone,” the chorus scored a combined 1,199 points, averaging 66.6, for a sixth place overall finish. The Vocal Revolution from Concord, MA, finished first with a total of 1.401 points with a 77.8 point average.

Pre-contest calisthenics. Picture by John Bradley

The Mad Hatters sang the same two songs in the spring’s Yankee Division competition, where they averaged 68.8. “I am very proud of the fact that this is the highest we have ranked since before I was born,” said Danbury music director,

Joe Hudson. “Although the average went down, District contests are judged on a tougher scale,” Joe explained.. “The guys worked very hard and deserve that trophy. The last time the Mad Hatters competed in the District contests was in 2015, in Burlington, VT. There they averaged 62.3 and came in thirteenth.

Joe Hunter joins the warm-up. Picture by John Bradley

None of the Mad Hatter quartets competed in Manchester, but Take 4, comprised of Danbury/Bridgeport dual members did and scored a 65.9 average singing “Drivin’ Me Crazy” and “Oh! Look At Me Now.”

Moments before taking the stage. Picture by John Bradey The Portland, Me, Downeasters qualified to represent the Northeastern District at the International Chorus Contest next July. Vocal Revolution from Concord, MA, won the District Chorus Championship. The Narragansett Bay Chorus won the NED Plateau AA Championship. Hartford Men in Harmony is the Northeastern District’s Most Improved Chorus.

The Danbury Mad Hatter Barbershop Chorus

Hatter

Chatter

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Veterans Day at Mead School

By John Bradley On November 10th, a baker’s dozen of Mad Hatters travelled down the Naugatuck Valley to help the students of Mead Elementary School thank local veterans for their service. The chorus performed The “Star Spangled Banner,” “Armed Forced Medley,” “So Many Voices,” and “This Land Is Your Land/America The Beautful” medley, between comments by school officials, politicians and essays read by students.

Warming up before the ceremonies. Picture by John Bradley.

Students bringing in the flags. Picture by John Bradley.

Veterans taking their seats. Picture by John Bradley.

Mead Elementary student reading an essay.

Picture by John Bradley.

Joe Hudson, Mead music teacher and Mad Hatter music

director, leading the third graders in song. Do you think he tells them to “sing younger”? Picture by John Bradley.

A look at the students. Picture by John Bradley.

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The Judging Categories

From the Barbershop Harmony Society Website Music Category Music is defined as the song and arrangement, as performed. The Music Category judges the arranger’s skill and the performer’s musicianship in bringing the mood or story of the song to life, and the suitability of the material to the barbershop style. The Music judge is responsible for adjudicating the musical elements of the performance. He judges the degree to which the musical delivery demonstrates an artistic sensitivity to the song’s ongoing predominant musical element(s) and mood or story, as well as the extent to which the musical performance displays the hallmarks of the barbershop style. One of the primary hallmarks of barbershop music is its consonant harmony. Thus, the quality of performance depends largely on the ensemble presence, accurate execution, and artistic delivery of the consonant harmonies traditionally identified with the barbershop style. Indirectly, the Music judge evaluates the work of the composer and arranger. A basic prerequisite for a successful barbershop performance is that the song be appropriate to the barbershop style. Singing Category In the Singing category we judge artistic singing in the barbershop style – listening holistically for ringing in-tune voices that use a free, beautiful and rich vocal quality, which is wonderfully unified and vocally expressive. Judges in this category evaluate the degree to which the performer achieves artistic singing in the barbershop style: the production of vibrant, rich, resonant, technically accurate, and highly skilled sound, created both by the individual singer’s use of good vocal techniques, and by the ensemble processes of tuning, balancing, unity of sound and precision. They listen for a sense of precise intonation, a feeling of fullness or expansion of sound, a perception of a high degree of vocal skill, a high level of unity and consistency throughout the performance, and a freedom from apparent effort that allows the full communication of the lyric and song. Performance Category These judges evaluate how effectively a performer brings the song to life. They judge the entertainment value of the performance; the art of the performance. One significant goal of any art form is communication. A barbershop performance refers to how the artist communicates his/her message and vision via the transformation of a song into an entertaining experience for an audience. The performance of a song is the artist’s gift to the audience; whose experiences, memories, and imagination transform that gift into an emotional experience. The performers’ goal is to create a high level of entertainment through the performance. The means to that end are as varied as the personality, abilities and creative skills of the performers.

Definition of the Barbershop Style Barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture. The melody is consistently sung by the lead, with the tenor harmonizing above the melody, the bass singing the lowest harmonizing notes, and the baritone completing the chord. Occasional brief passages may be sung by fewer than four voice parts. Barbershop music features songs with understandable lyrics and easily singable melodies, whose tones clearly define a tonal center and imply major and minor chords and barbershop (dominant and secondary dominant) seventh chords that often resolve around the circle of fifths, while also making use of other resolutions. Barbershop music also features a balanced and symmetrical form, and a standard meter. The basic song and its harmonization are embellished by the arranger to provide appropriate support of the song’s theme and to close the song effectively. Barbershop singers adjust pitches to achieve perfectly tuned chords in just intonation while remaining true to the established tonal center. Artistic singing in the barbershop style exhibits a fullness or expansion of sound, precise intonation, a high degree of vocal skill, and a high level of unity and consistency within the ensemble. Ideally, these elements are natural, unmanufactured, and free from apparent effort. The presentation of barbershop music uses appropriate musical and visual methods to convey the theme of the song and provide the audience with an emotionally satisfying and entertaining experience. The musical and visual delivery is from the heart, believable, and sensitive to the song and its arrangement throughout. The most stylistic presentation artistically melds together the musical and visual aspects to create and sustain the illusions suggested by the music.

The Chinese Food Song

Sung to the tune of “Sweet and Lovely”

Last night alone, on my way home I passed the Hunan Tree. I’m hungry so, some lo mein to go Would certainly satisfy me, food for me. Sweet and pungent, that sauce does stuff to me. Ginger and spice, some stray cat fried rice, True gastric harmony. Chow mein, fried noodles, wanton soup with peas. I’ll perspire, stomach on fire, It’s the MSG. I’ll devour, More in an hour, And the cookie’s free.

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Music Notes

By Wynn Gadkar-Wilcox Early this year, the Music Committee adopted the goal of having a chorus of musicians by the division contest in

2018. That goal means that we expect by the spring of 2018 to have a chorus that has a substantially better education in musical fundamentals and in which each chorus member has made a substantial individual improvement in the quality of his singing. To be more specific, on the music side, we aim to have an entire chorus capable of playing the notes of their parton a piano (or, alternatively, playing each note on a pitch pipe), and also be able to sight-sing simple music with reasonable accuracy. On the singing side, our goal is to have everyone eliminate their own individual idiosyncrasies, whether they are in vowel formation, alignment, placement, or support, so that we can enjoy singing with one another in quartets and singing together as a unit that much more. To facilitate these two goals (and as part of the overall growth plan), the music team, supported by a budget approved by the Board of Directors, has made a substantial investment of time and energy. Assistant Director Scott Colman has run a series of music lessons to prepare chorus members to sight sing and recognize notes, keys, and intervals. Although we have temporarily suspended this program to focus on the district contest, Scott will be reviewing his lessons during November. On the singing side, we have subsidized our members' lessons with Debra Lynn, both individually and in quartets. Several months into this effort, I believe we have enough data to draw some conclusions about the results of this effort. First, I am very gratified that nearly the entire chorus has participated in our work with Debra Lynn. The amount of extra time this has required has been considerable, and I think it proves that even though we are all busy, we are truly willing to make a commitment to improve our singing and to sing at a higher level as a chapter. Second, I believe we can all hear the results, both individually and collectively, of our work with Debra. We have a better unit sound, and intonation has been massively improved. This is a testament not only to Debra's skill, but also to the efforts that all of you have made. However, much remains to be done. We are much further behind on our music-related goal than we are on our singing goal. Many of us are still not in a position to read the music and check our notes against a pitch pipe or piano, and even more of us are not yet prepared to sight sing. Doing so will allow all of us to learn music more accurately and more quickly and will allow us to have more fun while simultaneously cutting down on our rehearsal time for each song. Likewise, our singing improvements are always a work in progress. The challenge will be in maintaining what we have learned in these few short months and making habitual those changes that Debra has taught us. I am writing this shortly before our division contest. I am convinced that we are on the verge of a major breakthrough. But regardless of how we do in contest, I can tell you that the work that all of you have put in has greatly increased my

enjoyment of rehearsals. There is something very special about singing in a chorus with the capacity to sound this good. We know we are capable of providing some of the best a cappella singing in the region. Let's keep going in this direction. John asked whether this article could include some "before-and-after" comparisons to illustrate how the chorus has improved. Perhaps the best I can do is a frank anecdote. I can recall the day I first attended a chapter meeting. As John Cheeseman shepherded me down the stairs, I heard the warmups starting, and I remember my first impression: "These guys aren't very good." By the end of the night, however, I had met so many friendly and welcoming people--I remember in particular Jimmy Hopper, Chuck Kreiger, Danny Anderson, Andy Bayer, Tim Kaiser, Robert Golenbock, and Joe Hudson from that night--that I had decided to join the chorus, even though I knew I was joining a chorus that frequently sang out of tune. Here is my point: If I were to attend my first meeting today, I would not join the chorus in spite how it sounds (as I did in 2010); instead, I would join the chorus because of how it sounds. I would walk down those same stairs and say to myself: "Wow! These guys are pretty good." That's how far we've come in the seven years I have been here. It is a wonderful journey we are all taking, and I'm proud to be a part of it with all of you gentlemen.

Backstage

By Robert Bradley Another year, another District contest. Congratulations to the Danbury Chapter. In the past, twice at Lake Placid the chorus came in 5th and that was the highest we have ever reached. The contest moved along quite well and the venue worked for us due to the nice weather. If there had been bad weather, The walk around the halls would require a lunch break. This year we were able to pull contestants out of two final warm up rooms which gave the groups more time and made it easier for the events people to move members. The stage was the largest, I think, we have ever used. A special thanks to the two Manchester High stage crew students, Lauren and Kyle. It would have been impossible to manage the contest without them. In order for the curtain to go up, Kyle had to be on a catwalk about 15 feet above the stage. Our usual curtain person, Jack Cornish, being a bit older than I, would never have made it up the ladder. The sound was handled by our usual sound tech, but the lights were handled by the school and controlled by us back stage. The system was very professional as the two students, Dave Fairbanks, the school’s AV director in the booth, and the events team were all connected to each other with a headset. If I had a choice I would use Manchester High for every contest that we hold.

Continued on the next page

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Backstage

Continued from the previous page After some early confusion we were able to start setting up at noon on Friday. The school had a freshman morale booster session during our work and we were treated to loud rock and, I use the term loosely, music. There were dancing students and some kind of movie. My brother John and I set up the risers and we were sweating to the newies. I was amazed that the top step held up for the contest, as was John (he made sure he stood on the floor during the contest). We finally realized that a hammer make shorter work of the connections between the risers, much to the consternation of the Portland Chapter who provided them. This was the first year that we used nine sets of risers, then seven, then five. With the size of the stage we could have fit 11. The changes went smoothly for the audience and, if anything, made being backstage more interesting. The contest, from our perspective, seemed to run smoothly. We tried a few new ideas for presenters, such as asking the school’s music and drama department head to present. It gave everyone a new person to hear. Joe Hunter did a great job on Friday evening . There were many funny happenings as usual, many panic moments, and some confusion, but all told we made it through. Now on to Nashua in April, Lake George in May and the Sunrise contest that follows Lake George by a week. Leadership this year is on the Cape and it is shaping up to be a great weekend, We are now working on the Saturday evening show and planning some activities for spouses. Just so all of you singers are aware, the highest scoring contestants for the weekend were the mixed quartet that sang Friday evening —They outscored all of the other quartets and the chorus competitors. Gives one pause.

Interesting Musical Fact

1 in 10,000 people have perfect pitch, the ability to recognize a pitch without any reference. Some people with perfect pich: Ella Fitzgerald Bing Crosby Florence Henderson Mozart Beethoven Paul Shaffer Jimi Hendrix

The President’s Podium

By Danny Anderson What a wonderful weekend we had in Manchester, competing in the NED district competition. Winning the Plateau A category was a first for the chapter. This was the culmination of lots of work by each member of the chorus. This time last year Wynn and the music team placed challenges and goals before the membership to raise our level of singing. To aid in reaching these goals, we sat out last year’s District competition and spent our time and money on coaching and voice lessons. Joe Hunter and John Ward were engaged as our coaches, who challenged us and aided us in raising the “suck level.” The arrangement for members to take voice levels with Debra Lynn helped to develop our chorus sound. She challenged us to breathe differently and to sing vertically and not force the sound outward. I have found that by using these techniques the chorus’s volume is better and the sound has a better quality. Between the vocal lessons, coaching and everyone’s personal work, the product that we delivered was far and beyond anything we have produced in the past. As Joe suggested in an earlier email, we must continue building upon our accomplishments and press on and continue this improvement program. We now turn to preparations for the Holiday concert. Might I encourage you to begin now promoting the concert to your friends, family and neighbors? We will have a couple of new songs to perform, but most of the songs have been sung in the past. I would encourage each of us to commit the songs to memory. We know from experience that when we sing with uplifted heads, smiles and a youthful approach, we produce an excellent product. One of our limitations this year has been the limited number of sing-outs. We must generate more sing-outs next year. This should not be the responsibility of one individual. We all have connections and contacts with people and organizations where we can perform as a chorus, VLQ or a quartet. One of the goals we should set for ourselves is to grow our membership. We each know men who could be encouraged to become new members. I encourage you to talk to these men and encourage them to visit a meeting. Each of us were invited by someone to attend a meeting, and we can attest that once we rang a chord, we were hooked. Let’s grow our membership!

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Repertoire Notes Betelehemu Nigeria is probably not a place you would

expect Christmas music to come from, but over time Christian beliefs and native rhythms have blended to create Betelehemu, is a song based on Yoruban folk text. Awa yiori Baba gbojule We are glad we have a Father to trust Awa yiori Baba fehenti We are glad we have a Father to rely on Nibo labi Jesu Where was Jesus born? Nibo lagbe bii Where was he born? Betelehemu ilu ara In Bethlehem the city of wonder Nibe labi Baba o daju That is where the Father was born for sure Iyin nifuno Praise be to Him Adupe fun o jooni We thank you for the day Baba oloreo Gracious Father Iyin fun o Baba Praise to you Father Baba toda wasi Merciful Father The song was arranged in the 1950’s by Dr. Wendell P. Whalum, choir director at Morehouse College. It was given to him by an African named Michael Babtunde Olatunji. The Morehouse Glee Club has been singing it since. Perhaps the most famous rendition was done by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Emails to the Editors Please e-mail your questions and comments to either the Hatter editor, John Bradley, at [email protected], or the Chatter editor, Dick Zang, at [email protected]. If your e-mail appears, you will receive an autographed picture of our 2008 Yankee Division Bulletin Editors Award

I was talking to a friend of mine, who is a singer, about warming up the voice before practicing. She said she likes to lie on the floor during her warmups. Is that crazy or a useful tip? Harry from Hartford. Harry, I read an article recently on this topic that was written by a professional singer, Victor Croon. He encouraged singing in different postures because it allows you to feel the entire body as well as feel the movement of your breath. He

wrote that you should sometimes sit, squat, lie down, slump over or create other positons that allow you to explore what’s moving in your body as you breathe. He sings in a position, then compares the feelings in his body with standing upright. He warned to watch for any tension that may creep into your body while experimenting. You can’t sing well when tense.

November Board of Directors Miinutes.

Respectfully submitted, Robert B. Golenbock, MD, Secretary.

Meeting called to order by Danny “Celebrate Thanksgiving, you turkeys” Anderson, at 6 pm on November 7, 2017, at the Church of Christ. SECRETARY’S REPORT: The report from Danny Anderson was received on a motion by Joe Hudson, seconded by Jim Hopper. TREASURER’S REPORT: We've been spending a lot more than we've been bringing in. We have received donations for the book on our history totaling $565. Wynn has made a motion to approve $850 for the balance of the copy editing and setup costs for the book. Seconded by Robert Golenbock. Approved. $500 will come from the Dunkle Fund. With the cost of going to competition we are no longer in the black. However, we expect our costs to be much less for the rest of the year. We have not reconciled our costs for the singing lessons. The report was received on a motion by Jim Hopper, seconded by Robert Golenbock. MEMBERSHIP REPORT: No report. VP PUBLIC RELATIONS: Our article about our chorus has been placed in La Tribuna in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. We continue to solicit singers from the many communities. MUSIC COMMITTEE: Wynn wants to have another Music Committee meeting to discuss the annual show and to figure out how to continue to work with Debra Lynn. We will also discuss the competition. OLD BUSINESS: Lee is willing to make phone calls to follow up on scheduled gigs if the shows are already arranged. We hope we will be able to put up a private YouTube site for the benefit of prospective clients. Donna Korb is ready to assume the Chair of the Annual Show. We are trying to arrange purchase of tickets so we can sell them individually. Joe spoke to the women's chorus Harmony on the Sound. They are available on September 29 and have reserved that date. Their fee is $1000. NEW BUSINESS: Joe Hudson is stepping down from VP of Youth in Harmony and Webmaster in order to pursue post-graduate studies.

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Board Minutes (continued)

John Bradley is willing to be involved with the website as long as he is advised of his responsibilities. We have the Holiday show flyer ready. We will need to update the Valentine's flyer and do a poster for the next Annual Show. Robert Golenbock looked into using the United Jewish Center as a venue. We also discussed occasionally using The Meeting House Pub for Guest Nights. Joe Hudson formally thanked Andy Bayer for his years of service. The Board unanimously agreed by acclamation. We will be discussing the Healthy Chapter Initiative at the next meeting. MEMBERS PRESENT: M. Romney OFFICERS PRESENT: D. Anderson, D. Demarche, R. Golenbock, A. Cilley, P. Daubner, W. Gadkar-Wilcox, J. Hudson, J. Hopper. Meeting adjourned at 7:06 pm. Next meeting is December 5, 2017.

November 28, 2017

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday,

#GIVINGTUESDAY

One of Harmony Foundation's goals is to fund as many scholarships as possible of the applications

for assistance Barbershop Harmony Society receives.

Last year, 157 scholarships were awarded! That's fantastic!

There were 457 applicants which is a huge demand of people interested in barbershop

training. 300 of which couldn't attend last year

because of financial constraints.

Every $750 raised online between now and #GivingTuesday will fund one full scholarship to

Harmony University.

Can we fund all 450+ requests this year? Please make an investment in the future of

barbershop today.

What is "Leadership Academy?" It is a curriculum of workshops and experiences designed to cultivate leadership excellence. Workshops help member-students to enhance their leadership competencies as well as develop their leadership potential. Typically held during a weekend near the beginning of a new year, it's dedicated to NED members, new-existing-renewing officers and those wishing to make a difference in their chapter - and achieve success in singing and participating in your community. Classes are offered for most administrative leadership rolls and additional topics of interest - and are open to all. Sweet Adelines and Harmony, Inc. members are also encouraged and invited. After all, it's Everyone In Harmony. We hope YOU will join us and help make the difference in your community.

It's happening earlier for this new year! See why online.

NOTE! Main Program Classes are all on

Saturday, December 2, 2017 • 8am-6pm

PLUS... a Showcase of Harmony is "shaping up" for Saturday after dinner!

New Location! Come in on Friday, stay to Sunday!

The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis

Hyannis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

ALL UNDER ONE ROOF! Get around easily

Now is the time to register your chapter

and sign-up members.

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Ye Olde Joke Boarde

Submitted by the Unknown Barbershopper

Given the reality of my generally recognized lack of maturity, I must confess that I frequently do enjoy children's weekend programming. However, I would prefer it to be educational. Sometimes, I get fooled. This last weekend, for instance, I was tempted to watch an animated feature about the capital of Sudan. Then, it came to me that it was just another Saturday morning Khartoum show.

. . . Becky, a gold miner's daughter, dearly loved Clem, but was too shy to tell him. One day she learned that Clem was about to marry someone else, so she got her courage up and decided to find Clem, stop the wedding if necessary, and tell him how she felt. She had saddled her horse and was about to leave, when her father appeared and wanted to know why she was in such a hurry. "Oh, father," cried Becky, "I hope I can find my darling Clem in time!"

. . . This English landlady had a couple of struggling poets for tenants. When the poor fellows got behind in their rent, and the landlady was unable to have them evicted, she decided to murder them. She baked a large scone and put some poison in it, then invited the poets down for tea. She served each of the chaps a cup of tea and half the scone. The poison worked as advertised, but of course crime does not pay, and the awful woman was soon arrested. Feigning innocence, she demanded to know with what she was being charged. The police inspector replied: "Well, it seems, madam, that you have killed two bards with one scone!"

Current Mad Hatter Repertoire Regular Repertoire After You've Gone Breaking Up Is Hard To Do For All We Know I'm Sitting On Top Of The World It's A Brand New Day Shenandoah There Is Nothing Like A Dame You'll Never Walk Alone Oh, I've Got Hair Oil On My Ears And My Glasses Are Slipping Down, But Baby I Can See Through You

Patriotic/Inspirational So Many Voices Sing America’s Song Star-Spangled Banner This Land Is Your Land/America The Beautiful I Believe Lord’s Prayer Coming Soon Cabaret Yesterday I Heard The Rain Girl From Ipanema Be Our Guest I Have Dreamed I’m Yours (2008) Lullaby [Goodnight My Angel) Rhythm of Love (2012)

Holiday Jingle Bells O Holy Night Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer* Betelehemu Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas We Wish You A Merry Christmas* Feast of Lights Medley Feliz Navidad Do You Hear What I Hear Silent Night* Jingle Bell Rock Secret of Christmas Let It Snow

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The Danbury, CT Chapter SPEBSQSA

104 Lexington Blvd. Bethel, CT 06801

203-744-9480

President: Danny Anderson Executive VP Andrew Bayer Musical Director: Joseph Hudson Assistant Director: Wynn Gadkar-Wilcox Assistant Director: Scott Colman Membership VP: Jim Hopper Public Relations VP: Art Cilley Music VP: Wynn Gadkar-Wilcox Secretary: Robert Golenbock Treasurer: Dickson DeMarche Program VP Vacant Member at Large: Peter Daubner Member at Large: Walter Barlow Member at Large: Jim Hopper Immediate Past President Robert Bradley Uniform Chairman: Andrew Bayer Harmony Foundation

Chairman: Danny Anderson Music Librarian: Peter Daubner Sunshine Chairman: Vacant Booking Agent: Walter Barlow

The Hatter Chatter Serving the Mad Hatter community since last Tuesday John Bradley, hatter editor Dick Zang, chatter editor, 29 Clearview Drive editor, 2 Camelot Crest Ridgefield, CT 06877 Sandy Hook, CT 06482 [email protected] [email protected]

The editors of the Hatter Chatter welcome submissions from all chapter members and friends of the Mad Hatters. E-mail, mail, paper airplane us your thoughts, observations, opinions, singing tips and whatevers, and we’ll turn them into Pulitzer Prize copy

Baritone Deep Thought

The first person to say the word “cool” must have been really cool because

everyone started saying it.

Mark Your Calendars

Performance: The Festival of Trees. Sunday, November 19. Warm-up 12:30 PM, sing 1:00 – 2:00 PM. The Crowne Plaza Hotel, 18 Old Ridgebury Road Danbury, CT 06810. Performance Attire: Black Shirt, Black Pants, Black Socks, Black Shoes. Performance: Holiday Concert. Saturday, December 2. Warm-up 1:30 PM. Sing 3:00 – 4”00 PM. Church of Christ, 90 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury Danbury, CT 06810. Performance: Yankee Division Contest Saturday, May 5. 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Lake George Junior-Senior High School, 381 Canada Street, Lake George, NY 12845.

Baritone Quiz Find X

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3

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