Snippets From Our Past
Robert P. Woodland
AMCA HistorianComments/Discussion
00268 since Jan 5, 2008
Recent Visits: 00003 since Dec 1, 2008
Click to: Add your comment...
Click to: Enter (or remove) Your Email Address for Email Notification of Updates (You will receive the comment via email also!)
Back to Snippets
Entries/Comments/Discussion
(Newest entries are first.)
Topic: Wartime
Comments: Bob,
Great update as usual. Our Milwaukee Male Chorus has become very involved in patriotic music such as the flag disposal ceremony last evening plus the honoring of the Pearl Harbor survivor ceremony on Dec. 8th of this year.
Keep the history news coming.
George
George Pecor <>
11/12/02 10:52
Topic: Memorization vs Holding Music
Comments: Some say holding music looks tacky but I have seen choruses looking sharp without it and with it. So let me consider how I feel as a chorus member with music in hand and without music in my hand.
First is how I feel with sheet music. I like having that music in front of my nose! It makes my life so easy! I feel that I hardly have to work at all and I am having fun! I get so raptured by the music that I become a conductor of sorts myself. I get so focused on that glorious music that I feel no compulsion to listen to what is happening all around me.
What I feel without sheet music is a panic which is only diminished by my conductor starting the chorus. I immediately begin listening as hard as I can to what is going on around me. I remember to watch my conductor hoping for some more clues as to what to do next. I do not have time to think about what I am doing. I just do it and it is stressful. I remember to sing on vowels while keeping consonants short. In fact I don't sing them at all unless I am very confident about what they are. At times I find myself thinking ahead of the music and anticipating my favorite parts. The parts that I know I do very well. I am stressed but very alive.
With music and rehearsals' in my hand, my panic is diminished and I really think I can hear or actually feel what my conductor is going to do. I know that I am correct most of the time. I am quite smug!
The operative phrases from my previous paragraph are "what my conductor is going to do" and "most of the time". Music itself requests that we give it our utmost attention and it is at least 50% rythym or timing and in the times we live, perhaps more. Our conductors are only human and far from perfect. As a chorus member I have no hope of covering their idiosyncrasies (which are ever changing) with my nose in my music.
It is true that my memory often fails (as well as my aire) but as long as I keep a quiet cool, it's failure is covered by a fellow chorister and I am confident that I exchange the service at their critical times.
Joseph Francis McSweeney <>
09/26/02 00:32
Topic: Memory vs Sheet Music
Comments: I read both Bob Woodland's "SNIPPETS" and Bill Bates column on Sheet music vs Memorization. I feel it's time to voice my opinion on the subject. I feel that the use of sheet music encourages men to try and learn more songs. A faster changing repertoire means our audiences want to keep coming to hear the new music (wives included). Professonals use things like TELEPROMPTERS. Even Presidents and CEO's stand behind a lecturn, so they don't miss an idea or beat. Memorization will come with time. In any amateur chorus there are leaders and followers in each section. If the strong leaders (loud voice - site reader) is absent from a concert or practice, the others may be too shy to sing out and carry their part. Therefore I am an advocate of using music about 75% of the time and let the memory come on it's own.
Joe. (Joe Love, AMCA Past President)
Joe Love <>
09/16/02 07:32
Topic: Memorizing Sheet Music
Comments: Our choirs have been singing more than 500 hymns in a year. We could not possibly do it by memorizing them all.
Jule Gregorio <>
08/27/02 07:42
Topic: Memorization (archives)
Comments: ;-)
There do not seem to be many contributions to the current discussion (yet anyway - maybe everyone is on an extended "summer vacation") on "Memory vs Printed Scores" but it might be interesting to peruse through the past discussions in the web site archives. Have a look at some previous comments by AMCAers. (There are items in the web site archives that can easily be accessed by using the "Search" tool on almost every AMCA page.)
David Thomas <>
08/19/02 11:41
Topic: Memorization
Comments: As a director, I like the eyes of the chorus members to be available for contact (memorized music) rather than the tops of heads (holding music incorrectly).
However, I recall so many performance situations that could have been greatly improved had some of the chorus members had their music in their hands to support a rather insecure memory.
With an amateur chorus, there are many individuals that NEVER learn the words and their lack of knowing what is right really takes away from the efforts of those that do learn the words. There are many individuals that also NEVER learn the correct notes and "trust their ears" to kind of copy what they hear or make up something that fits for them. This does not add to the musical performance.
I would much rather have a secure musical performance based upon ALL chorus members doing their best and if "holding music" helps accomplishes this, then HOLDING MUSIC should be allowed.
Dance routines (movement) are not as easily accomplished with music in hand but I wonder what should be the standard - mediocre musical/movement performance or a secure musical performance.
I vote for SECURE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE. Singing the music right should be our primary effort and not some theatrical presentation.
David Thomas <>
08/17/02 20:12
Topic: Memorization
Comments: Bob,
There is no clear right or wrong answer to this but I feel that certain circumstances dictate our approach to this.
If we have a lot of new members it might behoove us to memorize a few selections while they get the feel for what our choruses are trying to accomplish.
If a chorus plans on several different styles of concerts, I think they need to have sheet music but again try to some songs without music and maybe some even a-capella.
Thanks for reviving because it really needs further discussion at all levels.
George Pecor <>
08/17/02 14:58
Topic: Memorize or use the crutch
Comments: Does the combat infantryman refer to his arms manual before firing at the enemy?
Don Peterson <>
08/12/02 08:59
Topic: Memorization - Voting is only some (intended) fun!
Comments: It is hoped that anyone coming to the AMCA web site will enter in the "fun" intended with the "voting". There are no "hidden" agendas here... only an attempt to give visitors something to do and something in which to participate. The "Comments" that visitors make can give us further insight into people's positions on memorization. Nothing will probably be solved (I don't know that is an issue that needs solving except at the Big Sings) but isn't it nice to be able to "dialogue" and express an opinion? I hope we get some actions on the voting poll (beside spammers and hackers).....
For me it would be interesting to know WHO made the different comments that were included in the article. Is the source info available Robert?
David Thomas <>
08/10/02 17:10
Topic: Memorizing Music
Comments: Another excellently written and researched column, Robert! I don't know that the poll will prove anything other than we are still as divided on this topic as we ever were.
You may recall that I also addressed this topic in my January 2001 Interactive column under the heading "On Memorizing Your Music".
http://amcofa.org/bates/number13.shtml
It is interesting for me to compare my thoughts with those expressed in your historical aproach to the same subject. and others may also wish to read the two perspectives.
I look forward to your next column!
Bill Bates <>
08/10/02 15:31
Topic: Just a test
Comments: One person indicated this site was inaccessible to him and I thought I would test an entry. (I will delete this entry later). AMCA Web Manager
David Thomas <>
08/07/02 09:43
Topic: Competition in AMCA?
Comments: I note the following from your recent column, "...That same issue reports the Ottawa Temple Choir as the second place winner in the Class B competition following the great concert in Madison Square Garden, New York in May 1929. The Peterborough Male Chorus of Ontario also competed."
Competition in our Asssociation??? I was not aware that we ever competed and would be most interested to learn more if our history files do have further information. Maybe we should consider some form of competition again and look to our past for a model.
I really enjoy these columns, Bob!
- Bill.
Bill Bates <>
07/06/02 16:10
Topic: Are Our Columns of Value?
Comments: George & Robert: Is it not both interesting and discouraging that our columns are motivating so few members to respond with a comment! I know that each of us spend a significant amount of time writing these epistles, have you any suggestions as to how we might encourage members to read AND respond?
At one time we had a monthly NOOZ sent out by Dave Thomas and that did encourage more members to both read and respond, but that is not happening now. Do we need to consider sendiing out our own notices to members so that they are aware when something new is written? That would probably require coordination in our publication dates though.
Just some thoughts from a somewhat discouraged writer.
Bill Bates <>
06/19/02 17:21
Topic:
Comments: Bob,
Enjoyed your recent column on the early history of the organization. The re-reading of the last sentence jarred me as much as it did in Lansing! I know it's all in the past but it was well put. I feel my feet are "just wet" in terms to my personal tenure with the organization and in a leadership position but I do enjoy it so much! Thanks for you attendence in Lansing and for the future articles that we will all anticipate!
Norm
Norm Goodling <ngoodling>
06/18/02 08:58
Topic: "America" is International
Comments: Bob:
Once again you have written a most interesting and informative column. One of interest, not only to all members of AMCA, but of particular interest to the Canadian members of our interntional organization. I wonder at the suggestion of adding "North" to our title though, is not the term "America" an international one?
Bill Bates <wbates>
06/17/02 15:39
Topic: Executive Secretary's Position
Comments: Robert: As I consider submitting my resignation/retirement from the job of Executive Secretary, your quote from our history files gives me pause to reconsider:
"Did you know that the position of Executive Secretary was established at the very beginning on the recommendation of President Old, to be the "master hand" and "a servant of such a governing board as you might devise". Mr. Old's observations and suggestions have proven to be far seeing, as is borne out by the endurance of the Executive Secretary's position and our system of governance almost unchanged to the present day. One wonders if Clayton Old ever dreamed in the early days of it becoming an international organization. "
I will rethink, but I feel that the time has come for me to pass the responsibility on to someone who may be able to have a greater influence on the direction our association is taking than I am able to exert.
Thank you for the insight.
Bill Bates.
Bates <wbates>
04/25/02 22:06
Topic: Old's Two Reasons
Comments: (Reference March 02 Article)
I am especially impressed by Clayton Old's statement concerning two reasons for beginning the Association.... (1) a larger organization to capture the attention of the press (and public).... (2) the larger goals (of male chorus singing) can be lost at the chorus level because "it is nobody's job and means it will not be done".
These two beginning insights can (should) give some impetus to re-state/re-organize "reasons for existence" of the International AMCA if we can look beyond just existing or "having fun". Bravo Mr. Olds!!!
Thanks Bob for drawing this to our attention..... keep it coming... we can learn from "knowing who we are by what has happened before".
David Thomas <dthomas>
03/27/02 01:45
Topic: Snippets
Comments: Welcome as an additional columnist.
Information like this can only enhance past traditions as we try to improve the future.
It's only through the stuggle,past and present, that we'll suirvive.
George Pecor Second Vice President
George Pecor <gepecor>
02/18/02 23:55
Topic: Historian's First Article
Comments: Very interesting piece of early history, Bob! Wow, an average of 57 singers in each of the 15 choruses, how times have changed. Participants seemed to have all been from the United States east coast and it is interesting to note that our AMCA membership has shifted its concentration to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan with Ontario a minor component. There are presently no members from New York state where we had our beginnings. It would be interesting and informative to know when this shift took place and why.
Also, this was an account of the second "Big Sing" where and when was the first?
Your column is a great addition to our web site, thank you for sharing our history with us!
Bill Bates <wbates>
02/18/02 19:56
Page Installed on 16 Feb 2002
David Thomas (Web Manager)
02/16/02
Back to Snippets
|