I never had a lesson in my Life.
Neither did my Dad, or his Siblings.
Yet, he and they could all play the piano, by Ear.
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Chop-Sticks” was my Repertoire!
Dad could also play the Banjo.
In fact, I still have it, hanging on my living room Wall.
It is a Four-String Tenor Banjo, almost 100 years Old.
I can’t play it Either!
My childhood was filled with family gatherings with Singing ...
Mostly during Holiday Seasons.
Being thus exposed, I did love music and ‘Chirping’ a tune or Two.
So, as a Freshman in High School, I joined a Choir.
At the time, Southern High had an A Cappella Choir ...
Which was quite Good.
But, I joined Mister Haffenden’s Choir ...
Which Met before school at eight A.M.
However, never being an Early Riser ...
I tended to be frequently late for Practice ...
So, this musical adventure, or attempt Thereat ...
Lasted just about ... One Whole Month!
Fast forward thirty years Now ...
I was accepted as a Choir Member
At The Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore.
The Director, Bob Twynham, said I was a First Bass.
This was a complete surprise to Me ...
As I had sung Tenor parts my whole life.
When I got home that night and asked my son about It ...
He said: “Dad, you’re a Baritone!”
HUH ?
Apparently, I had a better Range ...
And could hit both higher and lower Notes.
What did I Know?
Like I said ... never had a music lesson in my Life!
At the time, around September 1986 or So ...
The full choir numbered about 80 Members ...
Boys’ ... Women’s ... and Men’s ... Combined.
Believe me ... They were Really Good!
Sixteenth, Eighth, Quarter, Half, Full Notes ...
Treble Clef, Bass Clef, Rest Notes ...
Sharps, Flats, Codas, Repeats ...
Symbols ... All Greek to Me!
“CHICKEN SCRATCHES”
How in the Hell can anyone understand such Complexities?
Little by little, individual members tried to teach Me ...
Little by little, I learned a Little ...
En Espanole ... Muy Pocito!
Oh ... that reminds me ... for some odd Reason ...
All the instructions in most musical pieces are in Italian!
Piano ... Pianissimo ... Forte ... Fortissimo ...
DUH? Am I stupid ... or What?
Members became good friends in Time ...
Several told me that it is all simple Mathematics ...
“Tom, you’re good in Math ... you’ll get It!”
Just Keep On Keeping On!
The Director, Bob, was an amazing Man.
With only One Eye and One Ear that Worked ...
He could locate an individual in the back of the Room ...
And say: “So-and-so ... you are Flat ... or Sharp!”
In the early years ... many times ... it was I !
E G B D F ...
Every Good Boy Does Fine ...
G B D F A ...
Good Boys Do Fine Always ...
After about four years in the singing Choir ...
I joined The Handbell Choir Also ...
Spent about ten years Ringing ...
And sixteen years Singing.
In fact, in October 1995, when Pope John Paul II ...
Visited Baltimore, we performed both as both Singers and Ringers
It was an Honor that I will never ever Forget!
Somewhere I have a Security Badge to prove It!
After the Christmas Concerts in 2000 ...
I decided to take a Sabbatical.
The following year 9 1 1 Happened ...
It was devastating to all Americans!
The following year, in September 2002 ...
The Choir performed a 911 Benefit Concert ...
The Cathedral was Packed ...
Again, I was honored to Participate.
Since then, years later, I also was quite Proud ...
To join many of my old Friends ...
In performing a Requiem Mass ...
For our Dear Departed Director ...
Robert F. Twynham ... Maestro Extraordinaire!
To this very day, my ability to read Music ...
Is still quite Limited ...
I can only assume that I somehow Learned ...
To sing “By Ear” ... Like a parrot Maybe?
CHICKEN SCRATCHES ?
AMEN !
POSTSCRIPT:
In all those wonderful years in the Choir ...
We performed many, many Classical Works ...
And several pieces in other Languages:
French - Latin - German - Spanish ...
And even One in Polish!
Once, in a conversation with a person from another Choir ...
I mentioned that we even sang Mozart ...
After he expressed Disbelief ...
I Said:
We seem to travel along similar paths. Both my grandmothers were schoolmarms and self-taught when it came to reading music and playing the piano. My father played the trumpet in high school, could sing quite well, and said that he "played by ear," although he was hard of hearing from a punctured eardrum in his teens. His CCC camp bugle hangs from my fireplace mantel… All beat up by my younger brothers… I don't remember it being that way when I was growing up and he played it often at family get-togethers where we would all get around the piano with my dad sister playing and sing songs.
I learned music and promptly forgot it. I learned to play the piano and piano accordion and promptly forgot it. Sang in several choirs during school, but never joined a church choir. My dad's brother was a member of the Rochester (Minnesota) Men's Choir for many years. I understand they were quite famous, but I never heard him sing with them. I only heard him sing "Old Man River," solo, when he was in high school. Quite a baritone.
It looks like your choir singing got you in some high places. That's wonderful. Great memories. Thanks for sharing with us your chicken scratches.
First bass, Huh??? Well in Bawl'mer that would be Boog Powell, I guess.
Seriously,your musical odyssey sounds like a lot of fun, and a real blessing. I played piano and sang in a variety of choirs and small groups. Right now the church I attend is too small to suppor a choir, so I just sing in song service.
If you can't make a joyful noise, make a happy racket!!!
