A Brotherhood of Singing
Disbanded Camerata Club regroups for tuneful reunion
By JANE GARGAS
Of the
Herald-Republic
18 September 1992
|
Director Roger Stansbury instructs former members of the Camerata Club. the male chorus disbanded 20 years ago, but will hold a singing reunion Saturday. (Staff photo) |
Even though there is nothing like a dame, it will be the stout-hearted
men, I believe, who will display the attitude of "Hey, look me over"
as once again the brothers sing on, and end with friendship.
The stout-hearted men are those of the
Camerata Club, a male chorus that presented annual concerts for more than 50
years in Yakima. The men are joining together to do it again - this time after
a 20-year hiatus.
They will lift their voices in song - 14
songs in all - at a reunion Saturday at the Red Lion Inn.
Nearly 50 former members and their guests are
expected to attend the reunion, which marks the 20th year after the chorus
performed its last concert and officially disbanded in 1972.
"We all just love to sing," former
member Dow Lambert noted, explaining why the men decided to have a musical
reunion after the 20-year intermission.
Other former members working with Lambert on
the reunion committee are Marv Becker, Dave Wright, Ron Jacobs, Howard Shaw,
Dick Tuesley, Francis Mills, Roger Stansbury, Eugene Hoffman and longtime
accompanist Rosemary Falon.
Between 1915 and 1972 more than 300 men
joined the club, some for a year or so, others for more than 30. The name came
from a suggestion by one of the first members of the bass section, who had read
about a Florentine society of artistic and literary men in the 16th century
called the Camerata.
On Jan. 24, 1916, just as World War I raged
into its second year, the Camerata Club performed the first of what was to
become annual concerts.
That initial performance was given at the
First Christian Church; in subsequent years the concert became a black tie and
tuxedo affair at the Capitol Theatre.
And although the venue and dress for the
reunion may be slightly less formal than in former years, the men have returned
to their roots for rehearsals. Meeting once again at the First Christian
Church, the singers have conducted five rehearsal sessions over the past month
in order to re-familiarize themselves with songs for the reunion sing-along.
During Camerata's halcyon years more than 50
singers would harmonize in the annual concert. In addition to joining in song,
the group also raised money for musical scholarships for college students.
The reunion will begin with a no-host
reception at 6 p.m. in the Red Lion, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. All club
members who attend will be invited to join in the sing-along, featuring 14
tunes, all performed during past concerts. Reunion organizers have made contact
with 122 former members; many of whom had moved out of the area. One will
travel from Arizona for the event.
Selections for the evening run the gamut from
religious and romantic to show tunes. "Stout Hearted Men," is from
the operetta, "The New Moon"; "There is Nothing Like a
Dame," was sung in the musical "South Pacific"; "I
Believe" was part of the Fred Waring Choral Series; "Hey Look Me
Over" was in the musical "Wildcat"; "Brothers Sing On"
is a choral salutation, and "Friendship" is an old school song and
was always the last number the group performed.
Camerata member Stansbury, currently the
vocal music director at Eisenhower High School, will direct the reunion chorus.
Falon will play the piano.
Lambert described Falon, who first
accompanied the Camerata in 1953, as "the sweetheart of the group."
The idea for a reunion came from another
reunion, a gathering of the Ambassadors, an off-shoot of the club. That group
of 12 men sang at conventions and dinners in addition to the annual concert of
the entire Camerata. Three years ago the Ambassadors met again, and, as Lambert
said, "It was so doggone much fun we thought we should do it again and
invite the whole group."
Longtime member Mills is among those looking
forward to joining his old friends in song. He first sang with the Camerata
Club in 1938 and remembers that a short time later the active membership shrank
to 20, as many men. went off to serve in World War II.
But, Mills added, when the war ended, the
Camerata ranks were revived.
Mills, who is 83, began his own musical
career in a boys choir in his native England.
Last month when he attended the first
rehearsal for the reunion, he enjoyed the renewed feeling of camaraderie.
"It was good to see those fellows and sing with them again."
He said his baritone may not be what it once
was, but added, "It's amazing the amount of volume our group can
produce."
Agreed Becker, "At our first rehearsal I was enthused. We sound
good."
Not a surprise from the Stout Hearted Men.