Monthly Meeting -- After Action Report -- October 2008

The Baltimore Singers Club convened at Bertha’s, cider in hand, on a drizzly October 8th, 2008. In attendance were Erin Dowd, Don Yates, Peter Brice, Steven Lampredi, Severn Savage, and Gene Rosenthal. Discussion was wide ranging, from the repertoire of Hank Williams to the repertoire of 18th century masques and operettas, to the nature of repertoire itself. We also discussed our game plan for next month’s meeting to feature guest singer Dónal Maguire.

Don Yates got the ball rolling with Dillard Chandler’s setting of ‘Short Time Here, but a Long Time Gone’. He also sang ‘The Poor Wayfaring Stranger’ and Tommy Sands’ ‘There Were Roses’.

Erin Dowd sang three songs: ‘Farewell to Nova Scotia’, a popular setting of ‘The Two Sisters’ (Child 10), and ‘Glencoe’ by Jim McLean.

Severn Savage sang a not-surprisingly Australian song entitled ‘Wallaby Stew’ and an American setting of ‘The Boston Burglar’. He also sang a composition of Linda Kelly's about growing up and old in Hull, England, 'Lament'.

Steven Lampredi sang a version of Yankee Doodle from the War of 1812 published under the title ‘The New Yankee Doodle’. He also sang ‘The Sailor’s Darby Ram’, but that’s a lie.

Peter Brice sang a setting of ‘The Dear Companion’ collected by Cecil Sharp in North Carolina, Murty Rabbett’s setting of ‘Molly Durkin’, and a setting of ‘The Wife Wrapt in Wether’s Skin’ (Child 277) from Helen Hartness Flanders’ Vermont Folksongs & Ballads.

We left Bertha’s at around quarter to twelve with the cider inside us.

NOTE: In the case that the above listing is incorrect, incomplete, or insufficiently detailed, please recommend changes in the comments.

Don Stallone contributed this post's hyperlinks.

Photo: A lovely strawberry blonde muses: “Which fellow shall take me home with him?” (Credit: Sean McComiskey)