This is the latest new from us.
We don't like to toot our own horn, but we do want to keep you up to date with what is happening with the chorus.
On a sunny autumn day at the Monmouth County Park System's Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel Park, the public was treated to exhibits of 1890 farm life. Woodworked tools, lumbering, blacksmithing, caning and needlework were all elements of everyday life 130 years ago. So, too, was the homespun music and harmonies that flowed from the family parlor at the end of a long day or during leisure moments.
Longstreet Exhibitors
photos by Allan Dean
The men of the Chorus of the Atlantic, under the direction of Craig J. Page, performed two sets for the public event on Sunday, September 26, 2021. The flow of the crowd slowed and congealed around the front of the farmhouse where the chorus was performing. They listened intently as the chorus sang some of our favorites like: our patriotic package, The Star-Spangled Banner, God Bless America (with intro), a few popular tunes Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Edelweiss, Hello, Mary Lou, Good Old Days, Sentimental Journey, Irish Blessing, Shenandoah, and Take Me Home, Country Roads (under the direction Assistant Director Andy Ferreira) and several barberpole cats (barbershop standards) that gave a flavor of the music at turn of the 20th Century.
Associate Director Kirk Thomson led a demonstration of four-part harmony. The audience heard the Leads, Basses, Tenors and Baritones, in turn, and then the blended sound of the men singing, My Wild Irish Rose.
“A Quartet To Be Named Later”, was featured during each show. Terry Schmalzreid, Kirk Thomson, Allan Dean and Bruce Hanson sang: In My Room, Down By The Old Mill Stream, and Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie.
About Longstreet Farm:
The sights, sounds, and smells of rural Monmouth County in the 1890s have been re-created on 9 acres at Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel Park, Holmdel. Interpreters in period dress show both daily and seasonal agricultural and domestic activities.
Longstreet Farm is open daily year round from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors may enter at their leisure, free of charge. From Memorial Day through Labor Day the farm is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Pets are not allowed within the farm.
The Farmhouse is open weekends and holidays, March through December, from 12-3:30 p.m. or by reservation. For reservations and information, call 732-946-3758.
About The Chorus of the Atlantic:
The all-male chorus performs at festivals, libraries, ballgames, town events, galas, and senior residence communities throughout Monmouth County and beyond.
Under the direction of music educator Craig J. Page, the men meet weekly to rehearse a repertoire that has been curated by the chorus’ music committee. A mix of nostalgic and popular tunes all featuring 4-part harmony.
The Chorus will soon return to its “home” rehearsal space in the spacious auditorium at the Red Bank Middle School, 101 Harding Road, Red Bank, NJ. The hours will then be 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Watch our website for more information. www.redbankchorus.org.
Currently, we are meeting outdoors at the Lincroft Presbyterian Church parking lot, at the corner of W. Front Street and Everett Road in Lincroft on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 p.m.
The Chorus of the Atlantic has been meeting in-person. Well, sort of in-person. The men are participating in Carbershop, a drive-in rehearsal.
President Terry Schmalzreid explains: A drive-in rehearsal is a way for a chorus to sing together, but with each member isolated in the safety of their own car. Participants remain in their cars with their windows closed so micro droplets expelled by singing should remain in their cars. If any droplets escape, they escape to the outside atmosphere to fall to the ground or to be carried off by the breeze. Each participant sings into a microphone. Each participant purchased a wireless microphone that they bring with them, take home, and do not share with anyone else. The wireless microphones transmit to a central point where wireless receivers and a mixer combine the audio and broadcast it through a FM transmitter back to the cars so everyone hears the combined chorus on their FM radio. Wireless (UHF) and FM radio waves transmit at the speed of light, so it sounds like we are all singing in one small room.
Jim Weythman is our sound engineer and makes sure all our signals are working and transmitting properly. He works closely with Terry Schmalzreid who gathers the signals with sets of receivers and Jim transmits them to our car radios on 94.9 FM or another frequency he selects.
PHOTO: Pitchman Bruce Hanson is photographed by the APP photographer.
On May 11, 2021, a photographer and a reporter from the Asbury Park Press interviewed our director, Craig J. Page, and a number of the men about the experience. We'll provide a link to the article when it appears online.
Singing is a vital part of our lives. We enjoy the sounds we make together as we ring chords and harmonize. We enjoy the comraderie of our friends on the risers each week. We find real joy in performing for our audiences around Monmouth County. COVID-19 has put the world on hold and we are unable to meet in rehearsal. We will get togther again, but in the meantime, the Chorus of the Atlantic and the Matinee Idles are meeting on ZOOM for weekly meetings on Tuesday evenings. We have improvised. Instead of singing together live we record our voice parts and our technical genius puts it all together as a virtual chorus. We have also taken this time to review Music Theory. We start at the very beginning and go through guided lessons each week to learn more about music. But it is not all work. We spend time each week to socialize and stay connected with our friends.
If you are interested in singing and would like more information about our organization, please visit www.barbershop.org. You will find resources for all skill levels.
Join us on our ZOOM meeting. Contact Allan Dean at [email protected] to get meeting ID and password.
- You are here:
-
Home
- News