IMPORTANT UPDATE March 7: Holiday Ukulele Chorus – Irish

Message from Pam Vincent:

The March 9th Performance has been cancelled!!

On behalf of Cory Brendel, thanks for your interest in the Holiday Ukulele Chorus – Irish.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE – As I may have said, this show is a work in progress. The set order will change several times due to show length, soloist availability, audience reaction, Director’s whims. Methinks it is better NOT to arrange your binder in set order. Get numbered tabs, have the song numbers match the tabs so you can quickly get to the song as it is called out.

All songs are ready for download.

DOWNLOAD FINAL SETLIST

Click here for Joslyn Center Event Flyer. The Performance is on March 12. This free show is open to the public age 55 and over, so invite your friends and family. Be sure to RSVP.

UPDATE MARCH 1st

NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR:

Hi all –

IRISH WASHERWOMAN (is that one word?)

There might be some confusion, which I believe is my fault. The “music” (that term is loosely used in HUC) that was sent out has the tablature for the melody line in addition to chords. Should have been chords only, but it’s what we had…

Clarification for Irish Washerwoman:

1. We will not play the melody of Irish washerwoman, but rather chords only. Reason: the song will be played three times, with each time increasing in speed. Chris Runco will play it on his harmonica, and he advises that he is fully capable of speeding it up three times.

2. If for any reason he can’t pull off the third and final fast rendition, the HUC IRISH TIN WHISTLES (my new name for our kazoos) will enthusiastically join in on the last verse.

BRING YOUR KAZOOS ON MARCH 7 PLS AND ALSO TO MARCH 8TH.

HOMEWORK

Finally, i’M pleased to hear that some of you are already starting to play the songs. Thank you thank you thank you. YOUR HOMEWORK IS ESSENTIAL, CRUCIAL, AND MANDATORY if we are to pull this off. Focus on every song which is foreign to you. Your singing is more important than your uke chords. Why? There isn’t enough time after the 7th to learn a new melody for the 9th of March. Your uncertainty will result in mumbling, I guarantee it. And because we will have enough uke competence. If anybody has any questions in advance regarding the Director’s chicken scratch mysterious notes, feel free to contact me and ask.

I would like to not bury you with too many Director’s notes in advance. I will probably fail in that goal. Forgive me, and Don’t let that scare you off. This will be great fun.

IMPORTANT DATES COMING UP:

REHEARSAL – FRI MAR 7, 630PM

Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute, 595 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena 91103

Please try to attend. Tables and chairs available. Bring your own beverage

and snack, and BRING YOUR MUSIC AND A MUSIC STAND. BRING KAZOOS

QUASI-SECOND REHEARSAL – SAT MAR 8, 9AM, Plucking Strummers

For extra practice, or if you cannot attend rehearsal on March 7.

BRING YOUR MUSIC AND A MUSIC STAND. BRING KAZOOS.

Attendance at March 7 is preferable, because we may not get to all songs on the 8th.

See Links to the playlist on YouTube and the Performance dates with call times below. Remember to sign up with Pam if you haven’t done so.

UPDATE on Feb 26th:

DIRECTOR’S NOTE TO CAST RE PLUCKING PATTERNS:

Hi all –

It occurs to me that many of my notes will be incomprehensible at first glance, (and maybe second and third)…. They will all be made clear, I hope, at the rehearsal and each pre-gig rehearsal. They are teaching reminders for me, and subsequently important performance reminders for you.

PLUCKING PATTERNS – Why? Because plain old up down up down is deadly dull song after song. And we are going to look so damn good that we have to take it up a notch from your usual uke club.

If you are motivated, look at the slow waltz plucking patterns (at least half the songs!) Caledonia, Look To The Rainbow, Rainbow Connection, and Irish Lullaby are examples. It might take a little practice to pluck those patterns unconsciously if plucking patterns are new to you. Plucking patterns provide a changed pace and also decrease the volume level for the slow, pretty songs. We simply cannot hammer on our ukes and overpower the lyrics of those songs. –

DON’T WORRY – if you can’t do the plucking, you can always just sing or do one slow QUIET strum on the one beat. We’ll figure it out.

For the newcomers. Please know that The Irish Show will be a work in progress even as we do the gigs. We will learn what works and doesn’t work and adjust. Set order adjusted. Entire songs may be cut. Some venues may want a shorter show. This is one reason for the pre-rehearsals before each gig. (editor’s Note: Call Times are listed below)

Cory

DOWNLOAD SETLIST

Download PDF Info

YOUTUBE Music Playlist

UPDATE on Feb 22nd:

Director’s note regarding song melodies: A reminder to learn the melody of every song you are unfamiliar with. For example, I just listened to the full version of My Wild Irish Rose. It seems the words we have heard all our lives are merely the chorus! That happens all the time with the songs of the Tin Pan Alley era. I am inclined to do the full song, so we can fill our time.

Director’s note regarding links to songs (below): These songs are all very old, and there are many versions of lyrics out there. Some of these links direct you to versions of the songs with DIFFERENT lyrics than what we will be singing. Examples include Dear Old Donegal, and What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor? They are provided so you can familiarize yourself with the melody.

Your tasks:

1. Buy a cheap green three ring binder. You might also want numbered tabs to make it easier to find the songs. The set order may change for each gig, but the song numbers will remain the same. (OPTIONAL IF YOU ARE USING AN IPAD.)

2. Print the music. Or load onto your iPad.

3. Arrange the sheets so BOTH PAGES of two-page songs show without having to turn a page. If using an iPad bring your foot pedal to easily change pages. Make sure all devices are charged.

4. After No. 3, find a punch, punch the sheets, enter in your binder. (Ignore if using an iPad.)

The most recent performance schedule is sent with this email. Additionally, Cory is leading this set on Saturday, March 8 at Plucking Strummers if you want extra practice. Plucking Strummers Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529255938777168 Website: https://pluckingstrummers.club/

We have four gigs. PLEASE RSVP FOR THE REHEARSAL ON MARCH 7 to give us an idea re how many people to expect. Bring your music and a stand to the rehearsal. Bring your calendar, there will be a sign-up sheet for each of the gigs. CONTACT Pam IF YOU WANT OFF THE DISTRIBUTION LIST. If you know I have left somebody off distribution, please advise me.

UPDATE on Feb 15th:
On behalf of Cory Brendel — Linked below is revised flyer for the HUC-I gigs.

Two important points:

ONE REHEARSAL ONLY – Friday, March 7, 630P, Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute, 595 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena 91103. Thanks to June Chin for securing the location. Please try to attend, we are doing a song or two that will be unfamiliar. Links to the songs will be sent for all to listen to, which will be helpful. Bring your calendars, Pam will be asking you to mark a sign-up spreadsheet to indicate the gigs you will attend.
A FOURTH GIG HAS BEEN ADDED – Wednesday, March 12, call time 1PM, show time 2PM, Joslyn Adult Center, 1301 W Olive Ave, Burbank. The audience is open to the public age fifty-five and over, so this is an opportunity to invite your friends and family to see you perform.

Practice Update

In addition to our March 7th rehearsal, Cory will be leading our set list songs at the Saturday, March 8 meeting of Plucking Strummers if you want extra practice.

~~The music is being finalized, and will be distributed on Friday, February 21.~~

In the meantime, here is the set list (not in order) and links to the songs so that you can familiarize yourselves with them before you receive the music charts.

Cory has requested that you learn the melodies of these songs prior to the March 7 rehearsal.

THE SET LIST:

Click here to the view the entire playist on YouTube.

Individual videos:

Sign-Up with Pam

Please let me know which of these dates you think you are available so we can get an idea of how many will be at each gig.

CANCELLED: ~~Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 1:00pm call time. Location: Montrose.~~

Wednesday March 12 at 1:00 pm call time. Location Burbank

Friday, Mar 14, 2:00pm call time. Location: Burbank.

Monday, March 17, 10:00am call time. Location: Pasadena.

This is not a commitment for those dates, we would just like to have an idea of how many to expect at each show.

The song list is under development and should be available soon, along with a playlist to familiarize yourselves with the music.

DRESS CODE

Wardrobe will be black pants, kelly green, emerald green or white top. Some green top hats and other accessories will be available for your use on the day of the performance. First come, first served.

Gene Mazzanti has designed a great T shirt, if this is something you would like to purchase as an option for your wardrobe. It is available on the Plucking Strummers Zazzle page.

Click button below for the revised information and/or to buy a T-Shirt. You may also visit the Calendar to subscribe and add all the dates to your personal calendar.