New Dimension Chorus

There's a Brand New Gang On the Corner

jharris — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:54:46 +0000

I just came back into town after graduating college, getting a "real job" with benefits, and a wife. I didn't think that I've been gone that long, but the years slipped by faster and faster.

Can you believe that where the school used to be on Lincoln Avenue is now a Wal-Mart? The building where I got my hair cut as a kid burned down a couple of years ago, and now it's been turned into a retirement village. When I was a kid here, you didn't need a car to get where you were going, but now you need a car no matter where you are going. If you can get there, that is.

SBlendid Tonics June 2nd Gig!

bhorwitz — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:59:40 +0000

The newest New Dimension Chorus Quartet (SBlendid Tonics), including Bob Horwitz as Lead, Ed Graff as Tenor, Kevin Smith as Bass, and Kurt Hornbacker as Baritone, had its first gig on Tuesday, June 2nd, at the Elks Lodge in Livermore, and we actually survived. We performed for one-half hour and included some of our quartet repertoire, some Polecat songs, and some New Dimension Chorus songs. With cute comments and jokes interspersed between songs, we managed to easily fill the allotted time. We were well received, with lots of applause and an invitation to come back again in the future.

Rock Around the Clock

Demaster — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:23:52 +0000

"Rock Around the Clock," originally titled "We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock Tonight!" is a 12-bar-blues-based song, from 1952 according to documents uncovered by historian Jim Dawson, written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers (the latter under the pseudonym "Jimmy De Knight"). The song is ranked #158 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Silver Bells

ndchorus — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:10:53 +0000

"Silver Bells" was introduced by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in a motion picture called The Lemon Drop Kid in 1951. The first recorded version was by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards in 1952, which also became a hit in late 1952. The lyrics are unusual for a Christmas song in that they describe the holiday in the city, and not a rural setting. The song was inspired by the imagery of Salvation Army bellringers standing outside department stores during the Christmas season.

To Fresno…And Beyond!

vashuttle — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:51:30 +0000

I don’t like competitions. I hate dressing up. And, I hate the heat.

And yet, I put on a full tux in the heat, and performed at the Far Western District–Northwest Division competition on Saturday in Fresno for the first time.

Also Sprach Ray (Thus Spoke Ray)

RayTheBari — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:42:04 +0000

What does it take to keep a chorus together? The eight years that I have been a member have brought many changes.

April Barbershopper of the Month - Kurt Hornbacker

khornbacker — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:35:52 +0000

“99% percent of success is just showing up.” Well, that saying was clearly evidenced in the New Dimension Chorus’s selection for Barbershopper of the Month for April 2009. Kurt Hornbacker was April’s honoree. Kurt has collected his second BOTM in his two year tenure with the chorus, and was the first to recognize the fame that comes with writing a biography for the New Dimension Notes. He joined New Dimension in August 2007 singing Lead.

New Dimension Chorus Friends & Family Night

khornbacker — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:33:49 +0000

On Thursday evening, May 14, 2009, the New Dimension Chorus invited its members to bring family and friends to their weekly rehearsal for a mini show to celebrate the support received all year long. The turnout was pretty good, with close to 25 people filling the seats to listen the Chorus’ regular repertoire.

The evening was a good rehearsal for the Chorus as they prepared for the Northwest Division of the Far Western District Convention in Fresno the following Saturday. Early guests were treated to the inner workings of the chorus’ warmup and tuneup exercises.

Music Basics - Part 2

ndchorus — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:28:01 +0000

explained by Tom Wheatley, editor, Dundalk, MD CharivariLast month, this column addressed one of the functions of those markings on sheet music called notes. Specifically, we covered the length of time a note is to be held. There is a second major function that notes fulfill. This involves how high or low the note sounds. In effect, it fleshes out the melody and harmony parts.

The First Noel

Demaster — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:12:32 +0000

"The First Nowell" (sometimes The First Noel or just Noel) is unknown in origin but is generally thought to be English dating back to the sixteenth century, or possibly as early as the 13th century.

Town Square Harmonizers Update

psparaco — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:00:33 +0000

Town Square Harmonizers have a few singouts to report.
The Santa Clara Kiwani's Club invited the TSH Quartet to sing at their Feb. meeting at Marianni’s Resturant in Santa Clara. They were having a dinner meeting with their wives, and TSH did a mass singing valentine for them. We performed this show with our alternate lead, Ted McCall. We went in and did four songs, including “Red Hot Mama” to one of the wives. We were well received by the audience and we left knowing that they enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed singing for them.

Also Sprach Ray (Thus Spoke Ray)

RayTheBari — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:47:31 +0000

The New Dimension Chorus is a chorus made up of members of the Fremont-Hayward Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
For those of you who have never attended a chapter meeting/rehearsal, I thought I would try to put into words what goes on at a typical meeting. First of all, the meetings begin promptly every Thursday at 7:00pm. There is a very brief series of stretching exercises designed to ready us for singing properly. This is followed by vocal exercises. We are supposed to have proper posture and to bring excitement in our faces right from the start - not an easy thing to do after a hard day of work but thanks to the enthusiasm of our director Demaster Survine, we manage to get there.

Music Basics - Part 1

ndchorus — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:33:46 +0000

explained by Tom Wheatley, editor, Dundalk, MD CharivariMost things I’ve read on how to read music dive right in and start swimming. If you’ve never even been in the water, you are lost from the get-go. As I think back to when all that music fol-de-rol was just so much hen scratching on paper, I recall the frustration as I tried to figure out what the paper had to do with the sounds I was to make. In a rehearsal the other day, I heard people talking about roots and fifths and the third degree of the scale. It occurred to me that others must be facing the same frustration that I experienced in high school.

Free Music

jharris — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:26:02 +0000

The Barbershop Harmony Society has released 64 arrangements from the Heritage of Harmony Songbook, a great collection of Public Domain music compiled and arranged by the Society in the late 1980s. Go to the "Get Music>>Free Download" section of the Society website and scroll down to the "Heritage of Harmony" section.

Showtime 2009

psparaco — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:09:18 +0000

Every year, the Santa Clara Woman's League presents an "Old Fashioned Melodrama" and Vaudeville show at the Community Center in Santa Clara's Central Park, Community Recreation Center, 969 Kiely Blvd. Santa Clara, Calif. on Bowers Ave. near Homestead Road (across the street from the old Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara).

Let’s Talk Craft - Vowel Matching

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:57:37 +0000

Tom Raburn, Big D Bulletin, September 1998
Question: When does 2 + 2 = 5? Answer: When barbershop harmony is sung correctly, creating harmonic overtones and “expanded sound.”

Swearing in the New Board

vashuttle — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:53:06 +0000

Saturday, January 31, 2009 was the annual installment dinner/show for all of our Barbershoppers! And what a time we had! After much consternation from the 'crew,’ our ever-resourceful Kevin found a most quaint place called the Papillion, nestled in the foothills of Fremont. The decor looked like it was last remodeled in the 80’s but the food received rave reviews by those in attendance.
“The Old Songs” and “Down our Way” opened up the evening and what a merry sound it was! Our Fearless Leader, Ray, introduced what seemed to me to be the most dressed-up barbershopper, our MC for the evening, Larry Weiss! Black tie and tails! As Rod Stewart would say, you wear it well.Larry opened with a few challenges for us: primary goal should be to make the chorus larger! And without too much bereatment, he presides over the swearing-in (not swearing at) of our officers for the New Dimension Chorus for the current year. Kevin, Ray, Bill, Gordon, Gary,Arnold and Dave, you guys are the best!

Also Sprach Ray (Thus Spoke Ray)

RayTheBari — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:43:12 +0000

2008 was an eventful year for the New Dimension Chorus. Some of the highlights were:
The Chabot College ‘Evening of Entertainment’ featuring performers from classes offered through the college community education program. Two sets were performed for an appreciative audience.
In February, an unsuspecting Singing Valentine recipient was working at a computer screen when approached by four tuxedoed quartet members who proceeded to sing two love songs while many co-workers looked on, and he was unable to bring himself to turn away from his screen. This was surely a Valentine’s Day to remember.
Also, in February, the chorus performed for recovering patients at the Villa Fairmont Mental Health Rehabilitation Center in San Leandro. After the performance several audience members took the trouble to shake hands with every chorus member. This was particularly gratifying, and we wish all the patients in this facility a speedy recovery.

Singing Valentines 2009

bhorwitz — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:38:52 +0000

Contributors: Robert Horwitz, Jeff Harris
Photos by Lance Mangano
The New Dimension Chorus sent three quartets out over the Valentine's Day weekend to spread mirth and merriment across Alameda, Contra Costa, and northern Santa Clara counties. The three quartets sang twenty Singing Valentines this year. President Ray Spinosa said that our goal next year will be a full two dozen Singing Valentines.

How To Learn Your Music Quickly

ndchorus — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:28:35 +0000

by Nick Papageorge
Submitted by Dave Gunther, editor Whittier Choralaires, “SHOWCASE"
Dave asked me to write about ways that you can learn your music quickly and efficiently. Here are some simple, yet effective, steps you can take to help you in the learning process: