By Barbara ScottStaff Writer
If you thought the weather was too bad Saturday evening or perhaps there was another commitment on your calendar, what a shame, because you missed hearing the Caribou Choral Society sing their way, under the ever energetic direction of Dan Ladner, through 150 years of music. The theme for the evening concert was “150 Years: Our Musical Heritage” and as always it was anything but disappointing. From, “America the Beautiful,” the opening number performed with choral members singing as they surrounded their audience to a finale of “Armed Forces Salute,” it was difficult not to sing along, tap a foot and even blink back a few tears.
Choral members, traded their usual dark blue ties for a rainbow of lime green, pink and light blue ones and with Ladner resplendent in tails accented by a fuschia cummerbund and with the very talented pianist Mary-Jo Hedman as the group’s accompanist, the evening’s fare was full of nostalgic music.
One of the oldest American folk songs, written in 1846, “The Blue Tail Fly” (Jimmy Crack Corn) set the tempo complete with a quartet of members featuring a washtub base, soprano and tenor washboards accompanied by the spoons.
On a more serious note, “Going up to Glory,” a traditional African-American field holler/work song written by Andre J. Thomas, painted the picture of the 1850s.
Continuing on to 1860, Caribou Choral Society members performed a beautiful yet haunting arrangement of “Dixie.” Referencing the Civil War, Ladner listed a few statistics including the fact that there were four soldiers from Caribou and four from Presque Isle who fought with the 20th Maine Regiment under General Joshua Chamberlain and two from each city were killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. 700,000 soldiers were killed or died from disease during the Civil War and one million were wounded.
Highlighting 1864 the vocal selection was Stephen Foster’s, “Beautiful Dreamer,” which was written just prior to his death at the age of 38. The songwriter who was also well-known for tunes including “Oh, Suzanna,” and “My Old Kentucky Home,” was said to have had 37 cents in his pocket at the time of his death.
A medley which covered 1876, 1883, 1896 to 1899 featured the familiar titles of, “I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen, “There is a Tavern in the Town,” “Red River Valley” and “Hello! My Baby.” As the trip down memory lane continued, audience participation grew a bit stronger and the energy of music filled the room.
In 1900, “Buffalo Gals,” became a popular minstrel song. The arrangement of the song presented by the voices of the choral society was written by Alice Parker. Ladner said he had selected this particular arrangement because Parker had written it to use when, at one time, she was director of the All-State Chorus.
As they sang, “I danced with a gal with a hole in her stocking, and her knees kept a knocking and her heels were a rocking,” voices became stronger and once again those in attendance were brought back to an earlier time.
Another medley which included songs from 1905, “In My Merry Oldsmobile,” and 1909, “By the Light of the Silvery Moon,” paved the way for the 1910 favorite, “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” performed by soloist John Gorman. The gentleman sang this song with emotion in his voice and in his eyes, taking everyone back to a time when perhaps this was often the last song of the evening.
In 1912, the medley continued with “Moonlight Bay,” to 1917 and World War I with “’Til We Meet Again,” followed by “April Showers,” in 1921.
With Caribou Choral Society member Jon Simonoff playing the tuba, the strains of the popular of the Roaring twenties title, “Ain’t She Sweet,” once again created the urge to just get up and dance.
In 1939, the song, which would become the number-one song of the 20th century was sung by Judy Garland in the television movie, “The Wizard of Oz.” As the group performed “Over the Rainbow,” one couldn’t help but reminisce of where they were when they heard it for the first time, or to this point in time, how many times they had viewed the movie.
The first half of the choral concert, celebrating the 150th birthdays of both Caribou and Presque Isle came to a close as members turned to their souls singing the 1943 tune, “Birth of the Blues,” by Carl Strommen.
During the brief intermission, voices of those in attendance could be heard exclaiming to others and to some members of the choral group, how much the music meant to them.
Woody Guthrie’s 1950 song, “This Land is Your Land,” brought everyone to attention again, ready to continue the journey down memory lane.
As the audience sat anticipating the next selection, listed on the program, Ladner announced there would be an addition to the program. With the sound of pounding piano keys, it took only a brief second before audience members began rising from their seats singing, “Hail, Team of Caribou,” for a great many of us, a true, “blast from the past.”
From 1962 and “Blowing in the Wind,” when Ladner encouraged everyone to listen to the words suggesting we “let freedom ring in the wind” to the “Sound of Music,” from 1965, the combination of the 45 voices that are the Caribou Choral Society proved over and over again, the true magic of music.
In 1970, Simon and Garfunkel gave us “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” and sadly in 1988, the song written by Elton John, “Candle in the Wind,” honoring Princess Diana. As chorus members sang this selection it was again difficult not to be moved by their voices or the words.
Choral members shifted gears and attitudes as they presented their rendition of the sassy 1973 and 2002 Broadway musical and motion picture show tune, “All That Jazz,” from Chicago.
As if the entire evening hadn’t been heart wrenching, soul stirring and filled with memories, the finale offered by this group was indescribable. The “Armed Forces Salute,” brought those who had served in any branch of the military to their feet, standing humbly but proudly as they listened or sang along with the song that was and continues to be a strong part of their lives.
The emotions created throughout this concert were strong and when the final high note was held for what seemed like minutes, it would be difficult to believe there was anyone there who didn’t have to blink back tears or at least swallow very hard.
I believe the word from the past would be, “Bravo,” or in today’s language, “Awesome.”
It’s Caribou’s 150th birthday, — be a part of it. The Caribou Choral Society certainly was.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
The Caribou Choral Society presented “150 Years: Our Musical Heritage” on May 9.
