Duke of Earl & In the Wee Small Hours by DePauw Men of Note

Soloist Tim Grodrian '67 created new lyrics for Gene Chandler's 1961 classic "Duke of Earl" to spoof Rector Hall, a dorm for DePauw University freshman women that's now Rector Village -- with several buildings including a spiritual center. Grodrian traveled to China to perform solo classical music in 2006 at the invitation of the U.S. State Department and Chinese leadership.

During student days the solo was performed by the late Jack McWethy '69, who spoofed the university administration and later became national security correspondent for ABC-TV News. Joe Hughes '66 and Ed Williams '69 also were remembered during the 6-14-08 reunion concert on campus at Meharry Hall, where The Men sang as students.

"Duke" is followed here by In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, composed by David Mann (1916-2002) with lyrics by Bob Hilliard (1918-1971). Made famous by Frank Sinatra when he used the title for a popular 1955 album which also featured Mood Indigo, another Men of Note favorite in this video collection. Later performances of In the Wee Small Hours came from Carly Simon and John Mayer.

Organized in 1962-63 by Dorn Younger '64, The Men of Note became best known for close harmony original arrangements by Younger and his successor, Frank Jacobs '66, of standards from the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Other Younger arrangements for the Men of Note include Little Girl Blue, Mood Indigo, Sermonette and How High the Moon. Later Jacobs arranged Autumn Leaves, Every Time I Feel the Spirit and Tenderly, among others.

In this sequence, Jacobs is conducting, with Younger in the group in the top row, far left. Returning singers represent graduating classes from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Although many songs are performed a cappella, the Men added string bass, drums and piano accompaniment for others. This concert was no exception as the alumni singers jazzed up four songs with an instrumental trio. As students they added marimba for some tunes & performed original arrangements of music by the Beatles and the Association, adding electric bass and guitar. String instruments supplemented another concert. The student-run group produced a professionally engineered album in 1966, with several selections aired on WJR in Detroit. They also performed at Expo 67, the World's Fair in Montreal.

2009 COLLABORATION UPDATE:
Dorn Younger and Frank Jacobs worked together succesfully as students during the Men of Note's early days, but they were not close friends. That changed during the reunion concert of 2004, after the two men saw each other for the first time in 40 years. A new friendship resulted in performances of new choral music written by Younger for Jacobs and his wife, Arlene Harlow '66, sung by children's choruses in cathedrals across Europe.

More recently Jacobs commissioned Younger to write a 30-35 minute musical tribute for chorus and orchestra to commemorate, in 2009, the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. While composing Younger said he was "trying musically not to take sides" in remembering those who died on both sides during the Civil War. Lyics for the final of five symphonic songs, "Song of Vision," come from the speeches and writings of Lincoln.

The WORLD PREMIERE of "Lincoln: A Symphonic Tribute" was performed October 24, 2009 by the Summit Choral Society in Akron, OH, with over 300 performers on stage. See excerpt here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Qzjhc5cEq1E
or contact http://www.summitchoralsociety.org/




updated 2-19-2010/jt

(Video by Media and User Services Dept., DePauw University)

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[tenorkdb]

Great job guys! Wish I could've joined you!

- Kyle Bradford '79

[DePauwMenOfNote]

Thanks, Kyle. FYI we have eight songs posted now on six videos. Just be on YouTube and enter depauwmenofnote

[notiltforme]

You guys are very good!! Will you have another concert next year?

[DePauwMenOfNote]

Maybe two years til next concert. We usually sing every 3-4 years, but this one was so much fun for us & the audience that we may do it again sooner. Check back here for updates -- and thanks for the compliment!

[sharonamcgee]

This was great. Loved seeing my friend Curt Holmes singing. "The Duke" was fabulous!

[ObamaSupporter615]

Very nice!!

[Sgtpsoto]

Mon. and Tues. are gone ,,the rest is W.T.F.

[CAAJDJ]

ASTOUNDING!!

[LetsWangChung]

duke duke duke of earl duke of earl duke duke duke duke duke duke duke of earl duke or earl

[LilKama1]

<333

i liek it

[noxsbucks]

It sounds like an awesome concert. Sorry I wasn't able to attend, but will certainly attempt to get to the next one.

Jeff Leist -- MON 81-84

[amcloed]

whoa!!! this is awesome! as a depauwcappella member, i am thrilled and impressed...so glad we could follow in your footsteps!

[THEmattpatt]

I loved this!!! You guys were the inspiration to our DePauwCappella!