P.M. P.M. P.M.
April 22, 1965
Glee Club Concert Day
Dearest Patricia:
The concert was most enjoyable! I think your conductor, Brent Heisinger, is quite capable, no matter what kind of a stinker he may be behind the scenes. Also the student conductor, Carson Wong, is good! But why was he permitted to conduct only the one number “Hail, Spartans, Hail?” I should think Mr. Heisinger and the Music Department would want to show him off a little more.
The only indications I noted that Heisinger was poor in interpersonal relations (I guess that’s the proper term) were two: First the relatively small number of boys. It seems to me I can remember glee clubs in past years when there were about as many boys as girls. The lack might indicate that Heisinger repelled a good many boys. Another was the lack of soloists among the girls. It may be that there just aren’t any in the glee club, but that seems hard to believe. There must be more talent than was used. Perhaps Heisinger waited too long to begin to train potential soloists – or it may be that his concept of a Glee Club is that its offerings should consist primarily of blended voices. His “shushing” you suggests this. Anyway, if he wants to build public support for a strong Glee Club he should “hold out the bait” of opportunity for potential soloists. This would appeal both to the singers and to the audience!
I can remember years ago when San Jose State had a couple of incipient professional singers when one of them (Milton Watson) – a boy, got groups of 3 to a dozen other boys to join with him and sing just for the fun of it in the inner quad (The one we don’t have any more). Milton (I hadn’t thought of his name for years) did a lot to spark interest in Glee Club & other singing by students.
One feature of the evening that, I think, was in bad taste was that 3 or 4 workmen spent much of the intermission time folding up seats & dismantling the [page 2] stage. It reminded me of the way an old [illegible] circus began taking down tents & everything dismantling during the latter part of an evening program. This didn’t affect the singing of the boys this evening – as you said, they were superb but it did give the impression that the Music Department didn’t consider the Concert important and that is inexcusable!
You – as always – were lovely! But “they” did do a lot to “bury” you behind bigger persons so that in the second part of the program when the girls crowded together to make room for the boys, I couldn’t see you at all. Before that I couldn’t see much – at a time, - a part of your face, or your hair, or shoulders. Not until you marched out did I see you “en tout ensemble.” It seems to me that one part of proper showmanship for a glee club would be to group & space the girls so that everyone’s head could be seen completely – most of the time. Also, the excessive crowding when the boys came in should have been made unnecessary by having more seating (“standing spaces”). The Drama Department should be able to give the Music Department a number of “pointers” that would improve their showmanship. Nothing in a program should detract from or interfere with the appeal of the participants and the response of the audience! What do you think?
“Incidentally” I hope that some time before long you’ll treat me with a song or few from the program; perhaps when we have our first evening of poetry, communion and disinhibiting refreshments-- in a couple of weeks? Next week? After our Wednesday dinner? I tried hard to distinguish your voice & a couple of times I thought I got a little of it, but the blending & balance generally were too nearly perfect for individual voices to stand out.
End of Concert
The two enclosures you wanted I put on punched paper. I don’t know if you prefer punched or un-punched paper – but the punched paper lands itself to inclusion in a notebook. You can tell me and then I’ll know.
Your “outfit” this P.M. (“attire” is a better word but perhaps too formal) – is really a dilly! - My little red-topped avocado! Perhaps I should give my [page 3] reactions more freely – but I’m really a bit shy about so doing. – I’m so fond of you as a person – you have such excellent taste – and all that were I to burst out with what I feel inside, you might think me exaggerating. Anyway you looked delicious – good enough to eat – my allergy to avocadoes not withstanding! However, my irreverent mind recalls a story at this point of one “Alexander Stevens,” one of our famous U.S. senators many decades ago who was famed as a wit. (I know of him only through reading.) He was a bit vitriolic and one of his political enemies, after an especially acrid outburst, strode over to Stevens in the senate chamber and said, “I’m so mad at you, I could eat you!” Steven’s retort was, “Well, if you did, you’d have more brains in your stomach than you’ve got in your head!” This is a story your Mom would enjoy!
Well, darling, I really have no excuse for continuing to write to you except that I enjoy doing it and I have work a’calling me so I’ll have to say “Goodnight!” OK – not yet – I should tell you how supremely happy you made me at dinner last night and afterward. Your telling me that your glad I was back lifted me up to my high cloud No 14 again and I went to bed in a blissful mood when I got to it.
I’ll be seeing you – but not soon enough – sometime soon! As soon as one of our little visits together is over, I begin to look forward to the next and to count the days until the next one comes. They punctuate my life with most of the high points I know. Lets have our first poetry & refreshments session soon! – Can we? (My English teachers would all have said “May we” – since I’m asking you!)
Much Love
Carl
P.S. The name of this thin typing paper I’m using is “Cloud Ripple.” I’m changing the cover sheet to read “Cloud 14 Ripple.” (I’ll phone Connie or Doris tomorrow morning & promise to drive out & get the application & get it in the mail with another note of mine to Mr. Donare (?))
Need of Loving
By Strickland Gillilan
Folk need a lot of loving in the morning/
The day is all before, with cares beset –/
The cares we know, and they that give no warning/
For love is God’s own antidote for fret./
Folk need a heap of loving at the noontime –/
In the battle lull, the moment snatched from strife/
Halfway between the waking and the croon time/
While bickering and worriment are rife./
Folk hunger so for loving at the night time/
When wearily they take them home to rest –/
At slumber song and turning-out-the-light time/
Of all the times for loving that’s the best./
Folk want a lot of loving every minute –/
The sympathy of others and their smile!/
Till life’s end, from the moment they begin it,/
Folks need a lot of loving all the while./
Every the Eighth
I’m Every the 8th, I am/
Every the 8th I am, I am/
I got married to the widow next door/
She’s been married seven times before/
Every was a Every!/
She wouldn’t marry a Willie or a Sam/
I’m the dear old bloke/
Named Every/
Every the 8th I am./
- Anonymous
Contributed by Dr. Carl Sharsmith.
Dr. Carl Duncan and Patricia Whiting Collection (SJSU)
