Friday, July 26, 1963
Kansan Camp News
Page 3
114 Strings See Record Broken For Orchestra
The largest string section in the history of the Midwestern Music and Art Camp made this year's orchestra one of the best. This is the 24th year for the orchestra to be a part of the camp program.
This year's orchestra had 114 musicians while the first had under 50. Gerald M. Carney has been the director of the camp orchestra for 17 years. The first director was David Lawson. Carney is also associate director of the camp.
"OUR STUDENTS play only professional music while they are in camp," said Carney. "Our music has the same scores as the music played by any professional group. We do not play any music that is written strictly for school orchestras.
"Our students are challenged because they can compare their playing to that of well-known orchestras." Carney continued, "We play the kind of music that will still be played 100 to 150 years from now, because it is good music that people enjoy listening to."
The guest conductors that have directed the orchestra this year and every year have brought new techniques, ideas, and concepts with them. They are famous, professional musicians, and are chosen and asked to come to the camp by a committee made up of Russell Wiley, Dean Thomas Gorton, and Carney. They are usually signed up by fall because they are all busy men. They
THE GUEST CONDUCTS pick their own music to conduct, but sometimes Carney suggests certain pieces that have not been previously played. "We want the campers to have experience with all types and various kinds of music," Carney explained.
"We like to have our programs balanced with music from all three of the musical periods. These periods are the Classical Period, which ran till 1800; the Romantic Period, which ran from about 1800 till 1890; and the Contemporary Period, which runs from 1890 till the present period." Carney said.
The orchestra brings together students from many states, backgrounds, and teachers and they put together a fine concert within a week after the camp begins. "It is amazing how fast this group of kids became a well-trained group playing their music well," Carney said.
SOME MUSICIANS come from towns where they have never had any chance to play in an orchestra, and yet they still play quite well according to Carney. They quickly pick up the main ideas of playing in an orchestra. The purposes of group playing are to teach orchestral discipline, to stress punctuality, attendance, and concentration.
Carney recalled one of the experiences of one of the past orchestras. "One Sunday in 1953, our orchestra was playing in Hoch Auditorium, which as you know, is not air-conditioned, and the temperature was 117 degrees. The paraffin on the ropes that hold up the scenery in the top of the stage began melting, and so every now and then, a piece of old scenery would drop on the orchestra while it was playing. That was really one of the hardest concerts that we've ever played."
The journalism picnic held last Saturday at Potter Lake proved to be as much fun to the advisors of the classes as to the students themselves.
Ice Tossing Adds To Picnic Folly
After the box lunches were consumed, the students set out to provide themselves with entertainment. The first idea was to throw someone in the "puddle," as Potter Lake had been dubbed.
THE NEXT thing that was discovered were the buckets filled with ice to keep the milk cold.
In one minute, everyone was in the act of throwing ice in the packed form of snowballs. Terry 'Dripin' Murphy, editor of the Summer Session Kansan, really got in the act of throwing ice around. He seemed to get a big thrill out of cheating by tossing water along with ice.
"SOUL" MUSIC?—These "cats," who are in the middle of an orchestra rehearsal, seem to really be digging the music. "Sawing Away" at the bass
fiddles are left to right, John Davis, Bobby Walters,
Judy Campbell and Connie Baysinger.
Ballet Instructor Comes First According to Camp Dancers
By Barbara Easterwood
By Barbara Easterwood In the ballet division of the Midwestern Music and Art camp, no one comes before the instructor.
Robert Bell, director of the nine-year-old division, is very highly respected by the members of his ballet classes. Bell, who was born in Montreal, Canada, has his own school in Oklahoma City, where he is also a member of the faculty at Oklahoma City University.
BEFORE HE opened his school of ballet in Oklahoma City, Bell appeared in movies while he lived in Hollywood, Calif., danced with the Ballet Russe in Paris, most of Europe, the United States and parts of South America, and was in such stage productions as the "Nutcracker," "Carnival," and many others.
His camp group began with only 12 members and now it has approximately 70 students. The ballet campers posed for art campers, have appeared in plays and participated
Bell has five classes with the fourth largest group in the camp. They are his two advanced classes, from 8-9 a.m. and 3-4 p.m.; his two intermediate classes, 9-10 a.m. and 4-5 p.m.; and an afternoon beginner's class at 5-6 p.m. Pianists for these classes are Rodger Rundel and Jo Archer.
THE BEGINNING class is usually composed of minors who are majoring in some other division of the camp and take the ballet course to fill an empty hour in the afternoon. But while they are in the class they learn the basic and fundamental steps in ballet.
Many majors are in the intermediate group, but though they are more advanced than the beginning class they are not as advanced as the top classes.
in an annual recital with the orchestra and choir.
Only ballet majors are in the advanced classes. The majority of these students have the ambition to become ballerinas.
Mrs. Dyer Plans Camp Menu
When asked how many people the kitchen feeds, these statistics were received: in the two weeks from July 1 to July 14, every day, they served 1,110, with 60 counselors, and 17 supervisors and staff. On the two Sundays, they served 84 and 96 guests during the day.
HOW LONG DO they work in the kitchen? The first shift of bakers and cooks came at 5 a.m. The last shift left at 8 p.m. or when they finish all the work.
Do you realize who one of the most important persons involved with the music camp was? Her intelligence was vital for everyone's pleasure and health, including the students, counselors, directors, and supervisors. The person being discussed is Mrs. Harriett Dyer, dietitian at Templin Hall.
By Jacoie Glaser
Mrs. Dyer, a graduate of the University of Kansas, has received her Bachelor's Degree and has finished her internship.
WITH SOME HELP from the staff, Mrs. Dver planned the meals.
Mrs. Dyer headed a regular staff of 21 people and a staff of 42 high school and college students.
Do you know what Mrs. Dyer must know and work out to give
everyone the proper foods each day? She must supply the essential foods, vitamins, and proteins each day. For example, the minimum amount of protein required every day is four ounces. They double to triple that amount here.
Some cafeterias use what is called the cycle menu. With this method, the kitchens repeat all their menus, exactly the way they were, every month or so. Mrs. Dyer said that this method is not used here. They start with a basic pattern and build the meals around it.
One of the most interesting parts of the talk with Mrs. Dyer was about the amount of food the cooks prepared each day or week for the campers. At one meal, some 400 pounds of potatoes were fixed. In one day 326 loaves of bread, plus 34 dozen rolls were eaten by the campers. In one week, 330 dozen eggs were used. For one day, 3,000 half pints of milk were used!
"It IS AMAZING how few plates are spilled," she said, when asked if there are many accidents.
Mrs. Dyer told how interesting and exciting her job is. She said, "When someone walks in that kitchen door, you never know what is going to happen."
The usual procedure of the ballet class begins with the class going to the bars, long wooden strips, one along the stage rim and another further out in the floor, supported by metal legs anchored to the floor by screws.
TO BE IN THE advanced class one must have at least three years training. It also depends upon how much work one has done and how advanced one is. There are 23 girls in the advanced class and one boy.
While at the bar campers practiced the basic steps, increased technical knowledge, and also warmed up their muscles. After approximately 30-35 minutes at the bar, they went to the center of the floor to work. Practicing on the bar helped cut the chance of tearing a muscle in floor work.
AT THE END of the class session the students clapped to show their respect and thanks to the teacher. It was also a practice at the end of ballet performances to show thanks to the audience. This display of respect is practiced in all European schools.
Bell was assisted in his classes by Mary Ellen McClure, Oklahoma City, Okla. Though this is her first year, Mary Ellen enjoyed it and will continue her job.
The last five of her 18 years have been spent taking ballet in Oklahoma City, from Bell. Mary Ellen also wishes to become a ballerina.
After the production of the "Unicorn," the group went on a picnic. The picnic was at the home of Ann Weir, who was a Lawrence camper in the advanced ballet class.
THIS YEAR NOT only is the ballet division participating in their annual recital but also in a concert with the chorus. Sunday, July 21, they participated in the "Unicorn" with the chorus in Murphy Hall
The annual divisional recital was at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 27 in Murphy Hall. Approximately 70 students participated in 20 performances.
Writers Star in Films
The journalism campers have played major roles in a movie produced by Patrick Prosser, KU graduate student from Leavenworth, Kan. Prosser made the films for a graduate course in television.
Junior High Has Increase of 60 Says Brummett
By Bethel Lawrence
Dick Brummett, a graduate of Southwestern College at Winfield and director of the junior high division of the Midwestern Music and Art Camp, said this year's enrollment was the largest in the three years of the junior high division.
There are about 250 students, an increase of approximately 60 from last year's attendance.
Brummett taught music for three years in Atlanta Rural High School, one year in Harper, Kan., and just completed his tenth year at Winfield.
BRUMMETT SAID HE became interested in music when he started playing the trumpet in grade school. He was in band and orchestra during junior and senior high school. He played the trumpet through college and as he commented, "I still play when I have time."
He met camp director Russell Wiley in 1960 at the Midwestern Music Clinic and was asked to join the music staff the year the junior high division began.
ALL JUNIOR HIGH students are required to participate in two divisions of camp, either band and chorus, or orchestra and chorus. Several students are enrolled in all three divisions.
Saturday, July 13, at Murphy Theatre a concert was given by the junior high orchestra, band and chorus.
During the two weeks that the junior high campers attended, they had three guest conductors: Loren Crawford, Washington; Jim Hardy, Wichita; and Don Corbett, Haven, Kan.
DURING SECTIONAL rehearsals Brummett and Corbett had a chance to work closely with certain sections of the band in order to work out the parts.
The junior high students represented twelve states.
Junior High Plans Concert July 13
The junior high vocal group, under the direction of Jim Hardy, Wichita, presented several difficult pieces at the junior high camp concerts held at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13.
The featured piece of the concert was Franz Schubert's "Mass in G." It was composed in 1815, and is set for soprano, tenor, and bass soil with the full chorus of mixed voices. The chorus sang the "I. Kyrie, IV. Sanctus et Benedictus," and "V. Agnus Dei."
THE CHORUS, consisting of about 250 students, also sang "Tu Es Sacerdos," by Robert Kreutz; "David's Lamentation," William Billings; "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," arranged by Harry Geller; "O Lamb of God Most Lowly," Gordon Young; "O Bone Jesu," Giovanni P. da Palestina; and "Adoramus te, Christ" from "The Seven Last Words of Christ," by Theodore Dubois, the English adaptation being done by Dr. Theodore Baker.
Several of the songs were sung a cappella and the rest were accompanied by Ada McKinney, from Topeka.
The chorus practiced for its concert in the Lewis Hall cafeteria.
THE JUNIOR HIGH vocal music division of the camp was organized at the same time the instrumental division was. Hardy has been the guest conductor for the three years.
Sloppiness Rate Gigs
The room check system had to have some way of punishing the campers who did not clean their rooms well, and this way was the giving of demerits. Demerits were given for not cleaning a room properly or for misconduct.
For a demerit, an extra bit of work was assigned to the camper who received it. This often included washing the drinking fountain in the wing, cleaning the snack bar, or the ever-popular practice of picking up trash outside the dorms.