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This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan. It was submitted by Steven Butz through George Pecor.
‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
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SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
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Some valuable information from
Bill Bates
New Executive Elected:
President: Norm Goodling (Michigan)
First VP: Tom Rayner (Ontario)
Second VP: George Pecor (Wisconsin Upper Michigan)
Third VP: Joel McLay (Upper Midwest)
Treasurer: Norb Lehmann (Upper Midwest)
Executive Secretary: (Bill Bates)
Past President: Joe Love (Ontario)
Student Choruses:
AMCA now has two student chorus members - the Statesmen of the University of Wisconsin and most recently, Vision of the Detroit High School for the Performing Arts.
Lake Erie District:
This district has dissolved due to the withdrawal of three of the four member choruses. The George Stone Singers continue as AMCA members having accepted the New York Penn District's invitation to join with them.
Lansing Sing, April 24, 25 & 26, 2002
Plans are progressing. Guest performers/ clinicians booked are "Cantus" and "Three Men and a Tenor". They will perform on the Friday evening. The International Board will inspect the Sing site at our next meeting to take place in Lansing, Michigan on June 7th and 8th. Choruses planning to attend may book their rooms on the web site beginning January 1, 2002.
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Music News from the Reviewer and Contest Chair
Hal Leonard will publish a "Book of Songs" with the content recommended by our Reviewer & approved by the Board (see Minutes for song list).
First prize in this year's contest goes to Willard S. Fast's selection "Song of Thanksgiving". It will be available as soon as a publisher has been arranged. Theme for 2002 submissions will be "folk-style music".
From our Web Site: "Chorus Nooz"
Topic: Milwaukee Male Chorus
Comments: From: "thepeddler"
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 02:22:30 -0600
The Milwaukee Chorus will have done 6 concerts in the last two weeks, including the National Anthem at Marquette Basketball,Chiristmas Concert at the Governor's Mansion, Madison.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
MMC
Burt Spurrier
DT
12/02/01 05:51 (EST)
Why not visit the site and give us all some of your views and news?
The Associated Male Choruses of America
Editor
Dan Plunkett
28 Ameer Drive
St. Catharines, Ontario
Canada
L2N 3S8
905 646-1445
dplunkett4(A)cogeco.ca
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Some Advertising
Should your choir be making application to this wonderful fesitival?
AmericaFest 2002 will bring together male voice ensembles from all over the world (also at St. John's University, July 30 - August 5, 2002).
Info from a Morton mailing (31 May 2000):
AmericaFest 2000 is an international festival for choirs. This year (2000) is located at St John's University, Minnesota, USA from June 27 until July 3, 2000. Widely regarded as the world's premiere festival for male voices.
(2000) This year the International Choir is the Australian Boys Choir and Vocal Consort, led by Noel Ancell. No stranger to travel himself, Noel Ancell has written a lovely setting of the Australian poet, C.J. Dennis's poem "The Traveller" for SSAA choir. The poem mentions strange places - Burrumbeet, Beetaloo, Ballarat and Gundagai - which do in fact exist. Although harmonically simple, the metrical changes involve 7/8, 6/8, 3/4, 12/8, and 4/4 will keep a choir on its toes.
The King Singers will also be there.
Link to information about this and other events on the AMCA web site.
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It’s Better to Give Than Receive!
Kathleen Healy of Minnesota was buying some jeans in a store when she found a money clip in the change room. She turned it in but refused to take any reward from the owner. Eventually, she accepted a box of chocolate from the store. When she unwrapped it, she found it contained a ticket worth $15,700 (Canadian) in a contest run by the makers.
The Globe and Mail (December 7, 2001)
Full Slate of Field Editors
The Chorister is grateful that we have field editors from every district. Please contact them with ideas, pictures, stories and jokes.
New York-Pennsylvania District Field Editor
Ric Addenbrooke
Tel: (716) 778-9412
Email: rica(A)pce.net
Ontario District Field Editor
Tom Mousseau
Tel: (905) 354-5630
Email: dplunkett4(A)cogeco.ca
Upper Midwest District Field Editor
Norbert Lehmann
Tel: (715) 834-1081
Email: nlehm10033(A)aol.com
Email: lehmann(A)amcofa.org
Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District Field Editor
George Pecor
Tel: (414) 475-1927
Email: gepecor(A)aol.com
Email: pecor(A)amcofa.org
Michigan Field Editor
Don Peterson
Tel: (517) 655-3879. His
Email: kerberc(A)msu.edu
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Received from Dan Plunkett, 9 December 2001
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