Stamps Quartet News (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 10, Ed. 1 Friday, May 1, 1959 Page: 4 of 15
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SOMETHINGS
TO THINK ON
By J. Lawrence Deavers
A friend of mine (a well-known
singer and a man who possibly at-
tends as many singing conventions as
any one I know) and I were discussing
singing conventions. It was observed
that there were schools in which peo-
ple were taught to sing, but one of
the greatest needs was a school in
which the proper procedure of con-
ducting a singing convention was
taught.
Have you ever attended a singing
where the president “talked it to
death?” Between every song he has
some well-placed remarks to make,
either humorous (he thinks) or giving
some one an introduction that would
inflate his ego for days to come.
After the glowing introduction the
person would miss the song entirely.
This can be very embarrassing be-
cause the audience is lead to believe
this person is capable of directing a
choir.
Then there are the singers that
never attend and support the local
singings but only go to the BIG con-
ventions where there will be an out-
standing quartet in attendance. They
will “arrange” a quartet but will only
use an old song because they can’t
read one note of music and haven’t
seen the current book, therefore they
do not know any of the new songs.
There is another group that does
not support the local singings. They
attend the BIG singings and a re-
quest Will eventually find its way to
the president for so-and-so to sing a
solo. By mere coincident they have
that particular sheet of music with
them. Invariably they are sitting in
the back of the auditorium and after
several minutes of discussion they
make their way to the stage, never
realizing they have consumed many
minutes of precious time. But after
all, isn’t it worth it? The only re-
grets are that we will not see either
of the above mentioned groups until
the BIG singing next year!
It would be much better to go
through the program with a minimum
of lost time and arrange the program
to maintain the maximum amount of
talent. I’ve seen a director on the
floor, then the next song would be by
a quartet with the same director sing-
ing in the special group. In my opinion
that is being unfair because there are
many people that do direct but who do
not have a quartet and consequently
will not get on the program. In con-
ducting a convention I do not use
members of a quartet until the di-
rectors are used. If there is time left,
then I use the others.
Before some misconstrue this arti.
cle, I am not posing as an authority
on this subject, but after many years
of professional singing and having
attended thousands of singing con-
ventions I believe I can qualify as a
judge of convention presidents.
I have said many times, and I
repeat without fear of contradiction,
that our listeners have not hurt our
Page (4) STAMPS QUARTET NEWS MAY, 1959
singings but we, the singers, have
contributed much to the downfall of
them because of the many things that
are tolerated during the sessions.
A fine man and singer in this area
told me of attending a convention in
the southern part of the state. He
said he was amused by the fact that
whenever there was a pause some one
would speak up and say, “If you don’t
have anyone to sing I’ll arrange a
special.” He stated that one man ar-
ranged seven specials during the
afternoon. It goes without comment
that those “specials” were a waste
of time because regardless of how
much music you may know it is im-
possible to have four people that ordi-
narily do not sing together endeavor
to sing a quartet.
I have been accused of being dog-
matic in conducting singings. I do
not intend to be, but I believe there
are rules that should be adhered to.
Too, I’m not accusing all presidents
of wasting time. In our section of
Texas we have some of the very best.
-o-
More About Writing
Song Poems
By Rev. W. L. (Bill) Hopper
Some one has said that twenty
years ago only one out of fifty were
writing songs, and
that now the~whole
fifty were writing
them. I am almost
persuaded to be-
lieve this after the
tremendous results
I received from my
offer to write mu-
sic free to the best
song poem I re-
ceived. I have re-
ceived poems from
eight different
states, and several from most of the
eight.
Here is the one I have chosen, writ-
ten by Florence Adams of Laclede,
Missouri:
NO ONE CARED FOR MY SOUL
1. I was a poor lost sin-ner, with
God so far a-way
My heart was grow-ing black-er
from sin-ning day by day;
My friends then all for-sook ^e,
despair deep o’er me stole
I had no friend or loved one, and
no one cared for my soul.
Chorus
And then thru my prayers I
found re-fuge
A still small voice spoke to me
“Though far a-way you have
wan-dered
There’s mer-cy still for thee.”
I gave my heart then to Jes-us
His name I now ex-tol;
I’ve found a friend and loved
one,
Some one to care for my soul.
2. I roamed the world for plea-sure,
I longed for peace and rest,
But when the day had ended,
God’s Spir-it smote my breast;
Oh, blind to faith and good-ness,
dark clouds o’re me would roll,
I had no friend or loved one, and
no one cared for my soul.
3. My clothes were old and rag-ged,
my hat and shoes were worn,
My life was wrecked and ruined,
my heart with sin was torn;
Still no one thought to whis-per,
“Your Lord can make you
whole,”
I had no friend or loved one, and
no one cared for my soul.
I want to thank all who wrote to
me and sent song poems. I am sorry
I was unable to answer all letters
personally. I did, however, answer all
that sent self-addressed, stamped en-
velopes, and many that did not. But I
do pastor a church and the time that
I am able to put into this work is
limited. So if you have written and
sent poems, and haven’t heard from
me, if you would like them returned
you may -send a self-addressed,
stamped envelope and I will be glad
to return them at once.
I hope I have gotten my point over
about writing song poems as such,
and not as poetry. However, I am
still getting them written as poems.
I still say that anything that is worth
doing is worth doing right. You will
never learn to play the piano by beat-
ing on a tub. You will never learn
to drive an automobile by sitting in a
rocking chair. You must go at it the
right way, and the RIGHT way to
write song poems is to write them in
song form.
LOYE
Love is the only bow of life’s dark
cloud. It is the morning and the
evening star. It shines upon the tiny
baby, and sheds its radiance on the
quiet tomb. It is the Mother of Art,
the inspirer of poet, patriot and phi-
losopher. It is the air and light to
tired souls—the builder of every home,
kindler of every fire on every hearth.
Love was first to dream of immortali-
ty. It fills the world with melody—
enchanter _ that changes worthless
things to joy, makes loyal kings and
queens out of common clay. It is the
perfume of that wondrous flower, the
Heart, and without that sacred part,
we are less than beasts: but with it,
earth is heaven—if we have God.
Mrs. E. W. H.
MUSIC
Life gives to every man a staff and
a scale of notes. The song he sings
is one of his own fashioning. The
world will stop to hear it if it be
sweet. If it be brave, they will fol-
low him; if it be a dirge, they will
run away.
(Alma Leggert Lonsdale)
WILL
People do not lack strength; they
lack will.
(Victor Hugo)
CRITICAL
It is much easier to be critical than
correct.
(Earl of Beaconsfield)
DESTINY
One’s destiny is determined, not by
what he possesses, but by what pos-
sesses him.
. (The Defender)
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Stamps, Mrs. Frank. Stamps Quartet News (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 10, Ed. 1 Friday, May 1, 1959, periodical, May 1, 1959; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth785592/m1/4/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .