Reminder

Orange 4tet Chapter Banquet
Saturday, Nov. 6. 2004, 6:30 pm
"Rembrandt's Beautiful Food"
909 E Yorba Linda Blvd.
Placentia, CA 714-528-6222
$20.00 each, to Phil Roth or Paul Kelley by Nov. 1st.

A Sea Change
All Shades of Indigo, and Then Some
By Stanley Tinkle

At six p.m. on Monday, October 4, Quartet Indigo was missing its bass and tenor. A Board meeting had siphoned off six singers, including our lead. So I had a moment to inventory our supply of song charts, which Phil Roth keeps well stocked. Ken Tillmanns came over and announced that he had learned the lead part to “Get Out and Get Under the Moon,” and by gum, he wanted to try it out with my quartet. Paul Lewis said he’d sing bass if he had the music, and Rich Lewis agreed to read the tenor part. In no time we were plowing through the song. Rich and Paul discovered that they really wanted to learn the song, so I sold them charts at $2. each. We jiggered the Big Board so that we would quartet that song on the first round of performances, and we went at it: “Underneath the bright silvery light, You’ll be feelin’ better soon.”

When the time came to announce the quartet, we were in a quandary. Often, if Indigo has one guest singer, we call it Indigo Light. With two guests, we’ve called it Robin’s Egg Blue. But with only the baritone present, we became A Touch of Indigo. No matter; another song that we enjoy had been launched into the repertoires of three more singers and who knows how many future quartets. This is an easy way for the immortality of a famous song to rub off on everyone who sings it. Who knows—it may buy me a few extra days on this earth.

That same evening, one of our newer leads, Rich Spencer, led three intrepid members through a pickup version of “Ain’t Misbehavin',” without recourse to the charts. That means that this beautiful song has reached the status of a Barberpole Song: we all can sing it now.

The previous week, Michael Werner kindly stood in at bass, while Dan Whipple, Stan Haymaker and Dan Gonzalez performed “Sittin’ On Top Of the World.” The quartet was either Baldertap or Fermata The Light. They were followed by Rich Lewis, John Majzler, Ken Tillmanns and Larry Johnson, some of whom were off the paper already. Then Larry stood up with Dan, Dan and Stan to try out “Let’s Get Away From It All.” What a delightful surprise! I’d call that group Fermata Left Field.

The same night, “Back in the Old Routine” came to life with Rich Martinez, John Majzler, Ken Tillmanns and Don Engel. We could call that foursome Plaza City Lights, or maybe Cap’n John’s Catch o’ the Day.

While listening to some of these songs, I felt like a proud papa, because my quartet had introduced them to the chapter. Some of them I may never learn “off the paper.” But it’s a sign of the vitality of the Orange Chapter that any member can try out these songs with a quartet. We can thank Rich Lewis for setting up the system.

Now I’m looking forward to singing “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby” with The OrangeTown Four. We could call ourselves The Beautiful Orange Babies—or maybe not.

Will Shakespeare once said of a man that “Nothing of him doth fade but doth suffer a sea change into something rich and strange.” I think Will would like our quartet combinations. They’re certainly strange enough.

From Other Chapters
Accessing "What Are We Trying To Preserve"

One of the most entertaining videos produced by Kenosha is the Dave Stevens talk at Harmony College in 1983, titled "What Are We Trying To Preserve". Any new Barbershopper or even experienced Barbershopper should see this 45 minute video.

It demonstrates and entertains as only Dave Stevens could.

M. D. Griffith -- Houston Tides

From: "Derick Sturke"
Subject: An amusing take on "what are we trying to preserve"

http://www.spebsqsa.org/web/groups/public/documents/pages/pub_cb_music_definition.hcsp
http://tinyurl.com/6wozk
M.D. - et. al:

If you don't have a copy of the video handy -- and have broadband Internet access -- the above link will get you to the streaming of this presentation.

At the lower portion of the page, click on "What are we trying to preserve," sit back for forty seven minutes and enjoy this wonderful lecture.

Derick Sturke

Indigo Cruises Along
It Works For Us
By Stanley Tinkle

Recently I was chatting with one of the Orange Quartet Chapter’s newer members who has been trying to start up his first quartet. So far they don’t have a tenor, but they push on, rehearsing at 6 pm, learning songs they like. I think they’re right on track. When the lightning strikes, they’ll already have a repertoire, and as we know, tenors learn quickly because they have the easy part. Heck, some tenors don’t even sing the words.

It’s worth the effort to persevere. When you finally hear yourselves ringing a few in quartet mode, no other pleasure can match it, except maybe chocolate. That’s why Indigo Quartet sails along, even when one of us is absent. We like how we sound when we’re hot. And due to the help of Ken Tillmanns, Chuck Governale and Michael Werner, who often fill in at lead, bari or bass, we have been able to continue to learn new songs. That’s why we were able to announce on October 11 that we are now ready to teach that splendid uptune “On the Sunny Side of the Street” to interested chapter members. In the process, Ken too has learned “Sunny Side,” and I would be surprised if he didn’t teach it to another quartet some day.

Contrary to the popular myth, Indigo does a rare gig now and then, plus Valentines of course. Gigs are great motivators to do our best. But we don’t sing any new song at a gig without running it by the Orange Chapter first. Where else would we learn those snappy dance steps? Right now, we’re looking at four spiritual-type numbers, looking for one that really rocks, in case someone requests a lively funeral.

Recently I’ve been singing tenor quite a bit. It’s part of my Lifelong Learning plan, looking ahead to the day when I haven’t got enough air even to sing baritone. Think about it, guys—all you need to produce is a pure tone. Some would say it’s a squeak. Now, how big do you think a mouse’s lungs are? Besides, it’s fun to mystify the audience. (Who’s singing tenor up there? Couldn’t be Rick Little; he’s singing lead on this one. Is it Phil Roth? No, his lips are moving. Lee Anderson? No, they wouldn’t waste him on anything but bass. Oh…..it’s him again!)