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The Idlers of the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) are an all-male collegiate a cappella ensemble specializing in the performance of sea shanties and patriotic music. The United States Coast Guard Academy ( USCGA) is the Military academy of the United States Coast Guard. Collegiate a cappella (or college a cappella) ensembles are student-run and -directed Singing groups that perform entirely without instruments A cappella (Italian or Latin "From the chapel/choir" Music is Vocal music or Singing without instrumental Accompaniment Sea shanties (singular " shanty " also spelled " chantey " derived from the French word "chanter" 'to sing' were Shipboard

Contents

Overview

A relatively exclusive group with a history and traditions similar to many fraternal organizations, the Idlers are the only all-male a cappella vocal group at the U. A cappella (Italian or Latin "From the chapel/choir" Music is Vocal music or Singing without instrumental Accompaniment S. Coast Guard Academy. Membership is attained through annual auditions overseen by the current members and the director. Group size varies based on current requirements, but generally includes between 12 and 20 men. The ideal group includes 3 or 4 members for each part: Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Baritone, and Bass. The group began 2008 with 14 singers and two understudies. The Idlers have an elected President, who normally is the "pitch" and leads rehearsals in the absence of the director. The Vice President is the "vice-pitch", also an elected position.

History

Founding

The Idlers were formed in 1957 by eight members of the USCGA Class of 1959 on summer cruise. They quickly drew the attention of the Academy's bandmaster Don Janse and began building their repertoire and fame. Don Janse (??-1999 was a famous vocal director and arranger from Old Lyme Connecticut. Within two years the Idlers had recorded three vinyl albums (for both the Design [1] and MGM labels), and had performed for President and Mrs. Eisenhower at the White House and on The Ed Sullivan Show. Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14 1890 – March 28 1969 was President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star general See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television Variety show that ran from June 20, 1948 to June 6,

1960s

Don Janse went back to school in the early 1960s and John Heffermann briefly directed the Idlers. When Don returned he brought a number of new tunes which would soon become Idlers staples, including arrangements of Banua, The First Time I Ever, and the Coast Guard Hymn.

1970s

The 1970s saw a resurgence of interest in folk music. Patterned after The Kingston Trio, a splinter group known as The New London Trio performed with guitar, upright bass, and banjo. The Kingston Trio is an American folk and Pop music group that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to early 1960s The Idlers sang at the re-internment of Captain Hopley Yeaton, the father of the Coast Guard, on October 19, 1975 [2]. Events 202 BCE - The Battle of Zama results in the defeat of Carthage and Hannibal. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Idlers made an appearance on Saturday Night Live on February 28, 1976, where Leon Redbone was the musical guest, and the hostess Jill Clayburgh sang "Sea Cruise" backed by the group[3]. Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Leon Redbone (August 26 1949 He has cited his date of birth as October 29 1929 this wildly inaccurate date was the day of the U Jill Clayburgh (born April 30, 1944) is an American actress of stage motion pictures and television During the Academy centennial in 1976, several reunion attendees and other Idlers living nearby performed at a black tie dinner held at the Norwich Sheraton - arguably the first reunion of past and present members on the same stage.

1980s

In both 1980 and 1982, The Idlers performed at Carnegie Hall during Eve Queler's performance of Wagner's Rienzi opera [4]. The 1980s drew to a close with Don Janse's retirement in 1987. Dr. Robert Newton had been conducting the Idlers sister group, The Icebreakers, and now began directing both groups. Dr. Newton took the Idlers on their first annual tour of Florida in 1988, performing for Magic Music Days at Walt Disney World, and at the Palm Beach International Polo Club. Magic Music Days is a Program put on by the Disneyland Resort, the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort Paris. Walt Disney World Resort is the most visited and largest recreational resort in the world containing four Theme parks two Water parks twenty-three themed hotels The Palm Beach International Polo Club is one of the largest Polo clubs in the world The Idlers performed at three Balls during President George H. W. Bush's Inauguration in 1989.

1990s

In 1990, The Idlers supported the Coast Guard's Bicentennial celebration with performances at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL, and the military tribute ball in Dallas, TX. Senior Bowl is a post-season College football exhibition game played in Mobile Alabama which showcases the best NFL draft prospects of those collegiate With the start of the Gulf War, The Idlers supported dozens of USO functions throughout the country, with notable performances in and around New York City, at Ellis Island, and at Fisher's Island in Miami, FL. "USO" redirects here for other uses see USO (disambiguation The United Service Organizations Inc The City of New York The Idlers were is such great demand that several quartets were formed, featuring one vocalist for each of the 4 parts. Singing Valentines, intimate dinner parties, accent performances for Flag Dinners - nothing was too small for an Idlers Quartet. The Idlers marched in the November 22, 1990 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Miss America 1991, Marjorie Vincent. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual Parade presented by Macy's Department store. The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands Marjorie Judith Vincent from Oak Park Illinois, US, the daughter of Haitian immigrants was crowned Miss America 1991 on September 7, The group performed throughout Washington D. C. during President William J. Clinton's Inauguration in 1993. The group sang aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Intrepid as part of the October 24, 1995 tribute to slain leader Yitzhak Rabin [5]. Launch and commissioning The USS Intrepid was launched on April 26, 1943 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995

40th Year Reunion
1998 saw the first stand-alone reunion of The Idlers. Conceived and executed by Edward "Cherry" Beale, I'92, the reunion spanned an entire weekend in April. An opening dinner was hosted at The Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut on Friday night. The Griswold Inn, located in Essex Connecticut, is the oldest continuously-run tavern in the United States of America. Essex is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. Some remarked that this was the retirement dinner Don Janse never got. Saturday was filled with rehearsals for the reunion concert in Leamy Hall. The audience was full, and the show was opened by Forebitter of Mystic Seaport. Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea is a Living history Maritime museum situated along the banks of the Mystic River in Mystic Connecticut Performances by the current Idlers, quartets, and Trios filled the middle of the program. John Heffermann, then Don Janse took turns conducting the combined 50-voice ensemble. Bob Newton finished the program, then handed out awards and recognition.

2000s

The group traveled to New Orleans for a November 9, 2001 USO concert [6]. Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The Idlers performed from the Parade of Roses' Abe Lincoln float on New Year's day, 2004 [7]. The city of Fort Worth, Texas declared January 13, 2006 to be USCG Academy day in honor of a performance by The Idlers. Events 532 - Nika riots in Constantinople. 888 - Odo Count of Paris becomes King of the Franks Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. [8]-[9] Members of the group performed a patriotic salute and the National Anthem in Browns Stadium to a sold out crowd on September 9, 2007. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. [10] Work is proceeding to schedule the Spring 2009 concert tour dates in Italy.

50th Year Reunion
The 50th year reunion was held April 18, 2008 at the Griswold Inn, and April 19, 2008 at the Coast Guard Academy. The Griswold Inn, located in Essex Connecticut, is the oldest continuously-run tavern in the United States of America. Thirty nine men returned to pay tribute to the 50 classes of graduates, and five decades of spreading goodwill through song.

Music

General

The Idlers memorize all their music. The repertoire varies from year to year but typically is heavy on Sea Chanteys and patriotic tunes. The occasional show tune and holiday song round out the mix. The Sea Chanty list is weighted towards capstan songs. Several numbers feature soloists, but a principal concern of all Idlers is the ability to blend well. No individual voice stands out, as they work together to create a smooth and pleasing harmony.

Repertoire

Core numbers
Regular favorites

Discography

(incomplete, reference)

Instruments

Some performances are augmented by various instruments. The premise of the " Mingulay Boat Song " is that it would be sung by Scottish fishermen as they returned from the Atlantic towards the Isle of Lyrics In South Australia I was born Heave away Drunken Sailor is a famous traditional Sea shanty also known as What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor?. Eddystone Lighthouse is on the treacherous Eddystone Rocks, 9 Statute miles (14 kilometres south west of Rame Head, United Kingdom An upright bass, banjo, and 12-string guitar are typical - these instruments were the staple of the New London Trio in the mid and late 1970s. Over the years, The Idlers have also performed with a squeezebox (or concertina), the harmonica (or mouth organ), spoons, washboard, tin whistle, and squeeze-bulb klaxon horn. A concertina is a free-reed Musical instrument, like the various Accordions and the Harmonica. A harmonica is a free reed Wind instrument which is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes (reed chambers or

Notable and famous Idlers

External links

References

  1. ^ Design Discography Listing, retrieved 2006-08-28
  2. ^ Hopley Yeaton: Father of The Coast Guard, retrieved 2006-11-19
  3. ^ Saturday Night Live transcript, retrieved 2006-11-19
  4. ^ New York Times, March 5, 1982 Historical Article retrieved 2006-08-28
  5. ^ Remembering Yitzhak Rabin retrieved 2006-11-18
  6. ^ LSU News, November 5, 2001 Article, retrieved 2006-08-28
  7. ^ Idlers Perform in Parade of Roses, retrieved 2006-11-19. USCG RADM Wpng|right|thumb|Flag of a Rear Admiral of the United States Coast Guard]] Gary Blore is a Rear Admiral of the United States Coast Guard. Daniel Christopher Burbank (born 27 July 1961) is an American astronaut and a veteran of two Space shuttle missions This article is about a band of astronauts See Max Q (disambiguation for other meanings of the term "Max Q" Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.
  8. ^ PR Newswire, January 9, 2006 Article, retrieved 2006-08-28
  9. ^ Fort Worth Academy, December 22, 2005 Article, retrieved 2006-08-28
  10. ^ USCG Academy official website, September 18, 2007 [1], retrieved 2007-10-07
  11. ^ US Coast Guard Firsts. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 96 - Nerva is proclaimed Roman Emperor after Domitian is assassinated Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. US Coast Guard (November 21, 2007). Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
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