Late 1960s & Early 1970s
And the Finger Pointed
by Joe Amico
The Choir "Chicken Men"
by Ellie Amico and John Carlson
How to Join Choir and What to Wear
by Ellie Amico
Thoughts on Choir
by Chris Askin
On the Spot
by John Carlson
That Infamous Tractor Trailer
by Chris Askin
The Strange Folks You Meet on Tour
by Marrianne Wadeck Hoyt
Jesus in the Choir?
by Marrianne Wadeck Hoyt
Those Crazy Choir Moments
by Steve Hulslander
Songs and Food of the McIvers
by Dorothy McNelly Ludwigsen
The Fun, the Best, the Sad, and the Puzzling
by Jeff Patton
And the Finger
Pointed by Joe Amico
Walter McIver did not designate soloists for "Every
Time I Feel the Spirit." Everyone was responsible for knowing
the parts and he would point at the designated times. During an
intermission, we each designated someone in an opposite section
to sing when he pointed. Was he surprised (and not too happy –
but a good sport). We never did it again but we never forgot the
experience!
Another time – just as the pitch was given, a truck went by
outside the church we were in. The truck was winding up in gear
and the choir took the pitch of the truck!
The Choir "Chicken
Men" by Ellie Amico and John Carlson
Ellie: A memory, now foggy, so I can't remember any details
except side-splitting laughter, was of the two men who each morning
on the tour bus did a personalized rendition of the then-popular
"Chicken Man" radio segments, involving (one detail I
remember) the notorious "Dr. Beard!" (Mr. McIver, who
had just grown one.) I hope someone from that year remembers more
details!
John: In 1969 on tour, Ralph Zeigler and I would conduct
a daily radio show on the bus microphone. It was based on the "Chicken
Man" show that was popular on the radio then.
How to Join the Choir
and What to Wear by Ellie Amico
I became a choir "groupie" because I was
dating a member, Joe Amico. But I thought I couldn't sing. Junior
year Pat McGuigan volunteered to give me voice lessons, and by senior
year I had graduated to voice lessons with Mr. McIver, and somehow
squeaked into the tour choir for that year. It remains one of the
best memories of my life.
Another – that was the year we first moved from wearing robes
for all performances to more secular attire. The men wore black
pants and white turtlenecks, and the women wore white blouses and
sewed long skirts in various pastels which Pam Kimmel dubbed "wonder-skirts"!
Thoughts on Choir
by Chris Askin
The choir was the centerpoint of my life at Lycoming.
And Walter McIver was a fantastic choral director and friend.
On the Spot
by John Carlson
1. In 1970 we got stuck in a big snowy traffic jam
on Cresson mountain. I had a drive the bus a few feet when the driver
put on the chains.
2. Walter McIver used to pick the soloists in "Religion is
a Fortune" right on the spot. Everyone had nightmares about
it. One night he pointed at one kid and someone entirely different
sang the line. We got a look from him on that one.
3. "L'il Liz." (Maybe not the right spelling.)
That Infamous
Tractor Trailer by Raimon Cary
1969 – Tour Choir went on a short weekend jaunt
to local Pennsylvania churches in spring. During the concert the
windows of the church were opened becuase it was getting warm. We
got our pitches from an alto and just as Mr. Walter McIver was to
begin the next piece, a tractor trailer drove by. The choir then
took that pitch and it was a disaster. Mr. McIver had to stop in
mid-phrase and start all over.
The Strange
Folks You Meet On Tour and other stories
by Marrianne (Wadeck) Hoyt
Just remembering choir brings a smile and tears to
me. It was a pleasure even though we worked hard and the bus rides
were sometimes long!
On tour in particular—4 of us had a "marathon" pinochle
game on the bus trip. If I remember correctly Diane and I were victorious!
It never ceased to amaze me how complete strangers willingly opened
their doors to us—college kids!—and the witness they shared
with us still speaks volumes today.
I remember a time in Mystic, CT when we had "some" time
so most walked downtown. A group of us entered the bookstore and
the owner began talking to me like we were best friends. I explained
I was from PA, but he swore up and down I only lived a few miles
away.
Then we toured south to Bill McIver land. We entered the church
and a woman was there who could have been my mom's twin. Even the
rest of the choir couldn't believe the sight. Most wondered what
Mom was doing there.
More memories:
In a New Jersey concert the choir was doing its Bach Chorale. The
one portion was "so there is now . . . now . . ." etc.
On the rests some poor person sneezed just enough to "help"
punctuate the sentence. We had a difficult time singing Bach after
that!
I'm not sure where we were but I was giving pitches for "Religion
is a Fortune." It took 3 times to get even a semblance of a
first chord – Finally, Mr. McIver went to the piano and told
the audience we must be backsliding!
There are probably hundreds more – but for another day!
Jesus In the Choir?
by Marrianne (Wadeck) Hoyt
Steve Hulslander was a bass and stood in the middle
of the back row. Steve had longer hair and included a beard and
mustache. Behind the guys in this particular sanctuary was a picture
of Christ—I believe praying in the garden. One little elderly
lady in the audience pointed it out to her friends—they seemed
to be confused and amazed and their heads bobbed back and forth
for quite a while.
Those Crazy
Choir Moments by Steve Hulslander
– I remember before singing in a televised concert
that we had a spaghetti dinner and the soprano who was to sing a
solo indulged a bit too much and had to be replaced on the spot
by Jane Spare (a certain nervous freshman!)
– I remember "morning greeters" on our bus tours
before the greetings got too friendly!
– Many of us still remember the "corn field talk"
but still don't know what it was about.
– We stayed in Wales and performed a parody skit using the
titles of our concert pieces, a truly hilarious moment! Agnus Dei
and Pastor Bonus were both characters.
– When we sasng "Let Us Break Bread Together" at
every meal on our concert tours it brought tears to my eyes.
Songs and Food
of the McIvers by Dorothy (McNelly) Ludwigsen
1. At choir camp, Mr. McIver taught us to sing "The
Foggy, Foggy Dew"—I loved the song and have remembered
and sung it ever since.
2. I believe it was on the day of the Homecoming Game—the McIvers
put on a wonderful smorgasbord-style brunch at their home and invited
us all over!
The Fun, the Best,
the Sad, and the Puzzling by Jeff Patton
Fun:
Niagara Falls—Walt got too close to the edge
Card games on the bus
England—Chris's guitar case rolling across, the streets in
Paris, singing in the subways, getting lost in Germany
The Best:
The terrific people in the choir
Sad:
Hardly any sad times, except singing the Benediction as the
bus was rolling into town at the end of each tour.
Puzzling:
The talk Walter McIver gave in the middle of a cornfield. I'm
sure it meant something, but now almost 30 years later, I still
haven't a clue—The cornfield sure was pretty.
|
