Monthly Meeting – After Action Report – December 2008

On the evening of December 10th 2008, the Baltimore Singers Club again inhabited the upstairs room at Bertha’s. There was quite a number of them: Pat Egan, Andy O’Brien, Don Yates, Erin Dowd, Severn Savage, and Peter Brice, with newcomers Charlie Baum, Lisa Null, Myron Bretholz, Judy Predmore, and Lisa Konyar. Mr. Brice (R-Maryland), determined to discuss the economics of last month’s concert featuring Dónal Maguire and Len Graham, was nearly thwarted by Mr. O’Brien, a transcendentalist, for whom the business of the Club is mere frivolity. There was also drinking, and several songs were sung.

Don Yates gave the first song, ‘The Rocks of Bawn’, followed by Alistair Hewlitt’s ‘Blue Murder’, ‘White Minstrel’, and Dillard Chandler’s ‘Short Time Here, But a Long Time Gone.’

Severn Savage sang several songs splendidly: ‘Old Abe’ from Frank Proffitt, C. Fox Smith’s ‘Home for Christmas’, and Andrew McKay’s ‘Lifeboat Horses’.

Andy O’Brien sang ‘Cushieville’, ‘The Session’, by Barry Dransfield, ‘The Little Drummer’, and ‘The Seeds of Love’.

Lisa Null sang ‘Time to Remember the Poor’ from Carrie Grover’s collection A Heritage of Song, ‘Yarrow’, and a version of ‘When Adam was Created’ collected by Cecil Sharp.

Charlie Baum sang a version of ‘The Federal Soldier’ learned from Ruth Pershing, who learned it in turn from Maggie Hammonds Parker, a Sacred Harp setting of ‘Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer’, and Dillon Bustin’s ‘The City of Columbus and the Humane Society’.

Judy Predmore sang ‘The Rambling Sailor’ and ‘A Pint or So’.

Erin Dowd sang ‘Dixie’, the anthem of the cups.

Myron Bretholz sang Franke Harte’s setting of ‘Napoleon’s Lamentation’ and ‘The Star of Moville’.

Pat Egan sang ‘Pink’ and ‘The Cherry Tree Carol’ (Child 54).

When he wasn’t being interrupted, Peter Brice sang ‘When Adam was in Paradise’.

This motley crew retired shortly after midnight.

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

Photo: Kindly gentlemen. (Credit: Sean McComiskey)

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)

Monthly Meeting -- After Action Report -- September 2008

Among the purposes of this blog is to provide a record of what we get up to and what gets sung at our monthly meetings. This isn’t just for our own edification and entertainment, but in the hope that, years later, we might be able to shed some light on the repertoire possessed by Maryland singers during the lifespan of the Baltimore Singers Club.

Therefore, without further adieu…

The September 2008 meeting of the Baltimore Singers Club (its first anniversary) got rolling a little after 9pm. In attendance were Andy O’Brien, Pat Egan, Peter Brice, Erin Dowd, Severn Savage, and Cindy Matera. We chatted about songs, especially children’s songs, and the recent passing of Ronnie Drew.

Severn Savage sang a setting of ‘Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still’ from the Warner Collection.

Pat Egan sang a recently composed out-of-love song entitled ‘Pink’.

Erin Dowd sang ‘Daddy Fox’ with an assist from Severn.

Peter Brice sang two songs: Thomas Moran’s setting of ‘The Elfin Knight’ (Child 2), ‘Strawberry Lane’, and ‘Commodore John Barry’.

Andy O’Brien sang ‘McCaffrey’s’, ‘McAlpine’s Fusiliers’ in honor of Ronnie Drew, ‘The Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe’, ‘Coshieville’, and ‘The Lee Boys Lassie’.

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

Photo: Pat Egan deconstructs narrative singing, society. (Credit: Sean McComiskey)