Useful info and links at the bottom of the page
Important News:
- Most Important - we are here for you! I am here for you! Anything we can do to make learning your music easier, our team will do for you. Our goal is 100% attendance with 100% preparedness - for 100% fun.
For example, below you will see a link to a document we wrote last year - we wrote it because someone asked me "I'm not very quartet-experienced, what should I know?"
Give us the gift of your questions, we will provide answers to you - and to everyone who comes to NEHB in the future.
- Basic run-through etiquette
- Advance notice to hosts is critical - if we can't get all four parts, we might have to cancel.
- If you are going, notify your host directly - contact info should be in the calendar invite.
- If you might be going, please notify your host directly.
- Update your host if plans change.
- Please be prompt - other singers may be waiting on you - sometimes having traveled a great distance. Also, when the run-through is over, leave promptly unless invited to stay.
- Bring your music, a pitch pipe, a pencil.
- Some homes have dietary restrictions - while it is good to offer to bring something, check in advance. Some homes have pets - if you have issues, please check in advance.
- Reminders:
- If you are a new or returning attendee and want a sponsor assigned to you, someone who can help you prepare better or answer your questions, please ask.
- Uniforms - it's a little early, but the standard uniform for the chorus concert is always the same: black shoes, socks, pants, belt, plain white long sleeve dress shirt (with undershirt) and any solid colored long tie. If you plan to do Friday sing-outs (more on those upcoming), the "uniform" is a Hawaiian shirt, jeans and sneakers.
- Additional part learning tracks are available for your personal use only. $20 per part, contact our Treasurer to purchase.
- We are still seeking and accepting singers, especially leads. Please: promote us to your quartet, chorus or other talented singing friends. Scholarships are available, if needed. Have them apply.
- We are beginning to plan run-throughs - please attend or host. May is songs 1-4. To schedule a run-through, email Rob Sheridan. You can access the calendar on the web, add it to your own online calendar or find it on the NEHB web site.
- Current members - a reminder that to retain your membership you must have a current BHS membership and you must also attend at least every other year. Memberships expire after the second consecutive failure to attend. Future members - if this is your second consecutive NEHB you can apply for membership during the rally via a recorded audition. More details coming down the road.
Quartet Singing For Beginners
Last year, Daniel Schwartz and I wrote a couple of documents for brigade attendees. I'll be sharing them over time - you can cheat, though, and find them on the blog website. All the documents are VERY short.
I keep revising the documents based upon feedback - please share suggestions. Please?
This first document is a very short explanation of quartet basics. Very useful to read before your first run-through.
If you are attending another rally this year - please feel free to share these documents with them, too. (All I ask is that you also ask them to provide feedback.)
One More Last Chance
Words and Music by Vince Gill and Gary Nicholson
Arrangement by Aaron Dale
Can it really be a Harmony Brigade without an OC Times song? Of course not!
Anyone who attended the 2018 NEHB rally with OC Times will remember them powering through this incredibly fun and very “corn-pone” country song.
Vince Gill is a serious country artist, highly recognized and rewarded - both for his original band (Pure Prairie League). his solo work and his work as a replacement guitarist for The Eagles. (21 Grammys, 18 CMAs, Country Music Hall of Fame, etc).
This song, this song is funny. :-) It invokes half the stereotypes of a good old country boy who likes to party just a bit too much. Even the title says “I know you gave me my last chance, can I have another one” - it’s just silly. The song hit the top of the country charts when it was released in 1993.
Much of the song, and especially the reference to the John Deere is actually a reference to George Jones, who infamously rode his lawn tractor to the liquor store when his wife hid all the car keys. George Jones appears in the official music video of the song (“Hey, Possum!”). He parodied that story on several songs - this one was written during his last big comeback era.
Don’t take yerself too serious during this here song. You are a bad man who loves a good woman, and you hope she still loves you too. Charm is the key to getting out of this fix. Sean Devine knows - you can hear the twinkle in his eye through his voice. :-)
VIDEO LINKS
Vince Gill’s official video (watch for the tractor, listen to that easy tenor, enjoy the guitar)
Vince Gill, 23 years later, live. You can hear the growth in the song
Useful Info And Links
- The Preparedness Blog
- Geomap of participants
- Our Guest Quartet and Judges will be Rooftop Records! Get to know them on Facebook, their website, or their most recent performance at the SUN District this spring.
- The New England Harmony Brigade Home Page
- The NEHB Application Page
- A Video Retrospective of the 2018 Rally (credit Jim Schumacher)
- Run-throughs
- Volunteer by sending email to Rob Sheridan
- See the calendar on the NEHB web site
- Add the calendar to your own.
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