November 2010
 
 

This month my mission was to cover the History & Music of the Gay & Lesbian Choral Movement, and such a daunting subject turned into a 9-hour show, the most extensive one yet on QMH. Part 1 naturally covers the history in general, and that includes an interview with Dr Tim Seelig, who for 20 years led the Turtle Creek Chorale. Part 2 finishes my interview with him and adds one with Robin Godfrey, General Manger of GALA, while the overall music theme of that and Part 3 is the Commissioned Works that enable the movement to grow. Part 4 is devoted to the Houston Story, with interviews with the gay chorus' founder in 1979, Andy Mills, and Dr Linus Lerner, its current Artistic Director. The other parts are music, music, music...with two hours of gay-themed chorus music, two hours of xmas music, and an hour of music by international choruses.



Part 1 - The History & The Music - 59:47
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New York City Gay Men's Chorus - I Joined the Chorus (New Century Songbook, 2000)
Anna Crusis Women's Choir - Forever Loving You (But We Fight For Roses, 1987, Philadelphis)
Stonewall Chorale - Beat Beat Drums (unreleased, 2007, New York City)
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus - Thou Lord Our Refuge (Closer Than Ever, 2003)
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus - Stout Hearted Men (unreleased, 1979)
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus - We Kiss in a Shadow (SFGMC Tours America '81, 1981)
Gay Liberation Quire - God Help You Merry Dykes and Poofs (Gay Liberation Quire Goes Down, 1983)
New York City Gay Men's Chorus - O Tannenbaum (Festival of Song, 1983)
New York City Gay Men's Chorus - New York New York (New York New York, 1984)
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus - 49ers Fight Song (45 rpm, 1985)
MUSE - Cincinnati's Women's Choir & Atlanta Feminist Women's Choir -
     Good Friends Are the Best (For Therese, 1990)
Interview - Dr Tim Seelig
Turtle Creek Chorale & Women's Chorus of Dallas - Everything Possible (Family, 1995)
New York City Gay Men's Chorus - We Are Proud (Look to the Rainbow, 1998)

Part 2 - Commissioned Works, Part 1 - 59:39
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Detroit Together Men's Chorus - We Sing Together (Live in Concert, 1997)
Turtle Creek Chorale - I Shall Miss Loving You (When We No Longer Touch, 1992)
Interview, Part 2 - Dr Tim Seelig
Turtle Creek Chorale - One Voice (Sing For The Cure, 1990)
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus - Marry Us (Naked Man, 1996)
Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles - We Sing (Hidden Legacies, 1993)
New Jersey Gay Men's Chorus - Flying Dreams (Prayers for Bobby, 1997)
Interview - Robin Godfrey
Portland Gay Men's Chorus - Where Everyone Is Free (Millenium Mosaic, 2000)
Portland Gay Men's Chorus - Truth Under My Wings (Millenium Mosaic, 2000)

Part 3 - Commissioned Works, Part 2 - 62:07
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Seattle Lesbian & Gay Chorus - Coming Out With Pride (Chronicle of the Way-Showers, 1993)
Connecticut Gay Men's Chorus - Out / The Kiss / Don't Ask Don't Tell / Out (Out, 1998)
Vox Femina - I Love a Rainbow (Simply, Vox Femina, 2002, Los Angeles)
Women's Chorus of Dallas - I Make My Way In The World (Only Human, 1999)
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus - Never Ever (Naked Man, 1997)
Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus - The Prodigal (25th Anniversary Collection, 2006)
Gay Men's Chorus of Washington DC - Neighbors and Friends (This House Shall Stand, 2007)
Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus - What's the Problem? (Through a Glass, Darkly, 2008)
Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles - Diversity (Diversity, 1991)
New York City Gay Men's Chorus - Sixty Years With Bruhs & Gean (1995)
Gay Men's Chorus of Washington DC - Changing Hearts (Changing Hearts, 2005)

Part 4 - The Houston Chorus Story - 78:32
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Gay Men's Chorus of Houston - I Can Fly (Topsy Turvy, 2009)
Gay Men's Chorus of Houston - Love Is All It Takes (To Friends and To Life, 1995)
Interview - Andy Mills
Montrose Singers - Pachelbel's Canon in D Major (All Peace All Joy) (1980)
Montrose Singers - Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair (1982)
Gay Men's Chorus of Houston - Home (Grateful, 2003) *
Gay Men's Chorus of Houston - Every Time I Say Goodbye (Red Hot & Cole, 2004)
Gay Men's Chorus of Houston - Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Mosaic, 2005) *
Interview Comments - Richard Hudkins and David Gebo
Interview - Dr Linus Lerner

Bayou City Women's Chorus - Ordinary Miracles (Uncommon Reflections, 2009) *
Bayou City Women's Chorus - One (Topsy Turvy, 2007)
Bayou City Chorale - The Great Peace March (Topsy Turvy, 2009)
* = on internet version only, plus that version features complete Dr Lerner interview


Part 5 - Gay Songs, Part 1 - 60:00
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Portland Lesbian Choir - Simply Love (Making Light, 1996)
Artemis Singers - Leaping (25 Years, 2005, Chicago)
Common Woman Chorus - I Want a Girl (25 Years, 25 Songs, 2008, Chapel Hill, NC)
SheWho - When a Woman (The Earth Will Turn Over, 2004, Philadelphia)
North Coast Men's Chorus - Why We Sing / Kiss You Naked / Keep It Gay (Think Pink, 2008)
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus - That Man of Mine Medley (Misbehavin', 2000)
Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus - Finally Here (Holiday Hope, 2008)
Unison - Windy City Singers & Aria - Parade (One, 2000, Chicago)
Windy City Slickers- Drama Queen (Sunday, 1999)
Heartland Men's Chorus - I Do (Heartland Pride, 2004, Kansas City)
Captain Smartypants - Vitamin Q (Undercover, 2004, Seattle)
Reveille Gay Men's Chorus - The Boy From Ipanema (Pride, 2006, Tucson)
Cincinnati Men's Chorus - Looking Back (Hearing Voices, 2001)
Cincinnati Men's Chorus - Hearing Voices (Hearing Voices, 2001)

Part 6 - Gay Songs, Part 2 - 61:23
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Rainbow Chorus - We Are Everywhere (Five Years of Freedom, 1998, Ft Collins, CO)
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus - I Will Be Loved Tonight (I Will Be Loved Tonight, 2004)
New York City Gay Men's Chorus Chamber Choir - Before Stonewall (2004)
John Whitley & the NYCGMCCC - History Remembers (History Remembers, 1997)
New York City Gay Men's Chorus - Love Don't Need a Reason (Love Lives On, 1991)
SFGMC & Armistead Maupin - Michael's Letter to Mama (Closer Than Ever, 2003)
Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus - If I Had Only Known (The Spirit Says Sing, 1997)
Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus - Walk Hand In Hand (Hand In Hand, 1994)
Positive Voices - Greater Than AIDS (Until It's Over, 1997, Dallas)
Portland Lesbian Choir - The Way I Want To Touch You (Making Light, 1996)
New Mexico Women's Chorus - Wimoweh (unreleased, 2008)
Pro Homo Voci - It's a Queer, Queer, Queer, Queer World! (same, 1999, Seattle)
Seattle Men's Chorus ensemble Philandros - Mr Sandman (Over the Rainbow, 1990)
Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus - It's In His Kiss (Bang Bang, the Music of Cher, 2005)
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus & Transgender Gospel Choir - Oh, Happy Day (2004)

Part 7 - Xmas Music, Part 1 - 59:32
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London Gay Men's Chorus - All I Want For Christmas (Make the Yuletide Gay, 2005)
Women's Chorus of Dallas - Christmas, In About Three Minutes (Season of Dreams, 2002)
Turtle Creek Chorale - Miracle of Christmas (Twisted Turtle Tinsel, 1997)
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus - I Don't Remember Christmas (I Will Be Loved Tonight, 2004)
Windy City Gay Chorus - Windy City Christmas (Don We Now, 1991)
Aria - Windy City Women's Ensemble - Shades of Christmas (Glad Tidings We Bring, 1998)
Boston Gay Men's Chorus - Welcome! Sing! Be Merry! (Freedom, Merriment & Joy, 1996)
Reveille Gay Men's Chorus - Santa's Choir (Christmas Collection, 2004, Tucson)
South Coast Chorale - Holiday Brunch (Christmastime, 1994, Long Beach)
West Coast Singers - What a Gay Old Christmas Tree (unreleased, 2006, Los Angeles)
North Coast Men's Chorus - Three Fagrigals (unreleased, 2004, Cleveland)
Gay Men's Chorus of Houston - Coming Out At Christmas (A New Season - Live, 2006)
Gay Men's Chorus of Houston - Not In Our Town (A New Season - Live, 2006)
Cincinnati Men's Chorus - Am I Welcome Here (A Homemade Holiday, 2002)
Gloria, Ireland's Gay & Lesbian Choir - Ring Christmas Bells (Gloria, 2004)
NYCGMC - Dear Santa (Bring Me a Man For Christmas) (A Holiday Homecoming, 2002)

Part 8 - Xmas Music Part 2 - 59:48
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Gay Liberation Quire - Hark the Herald Fairies Shout (Gay Liberation Quire Goes Down, 1983)
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus - Cool Yule (Cool Yule, 2001)
Heartland Men's Chorus - Christmas Kisses (Let Heaven & Nature Sing, 2003)
Mystery Date - All I Want For Christmas Is You (A Holiday Homecoming, 2003, NYC)
New York City Gay Men's Chorus' Uptown Express - Remember (Jamie DeRoy & Friends, 1992)
Potomac Fever - GMC of Washington DC - That Special Time of Year (In Our Lifetime, 1998)
Gay Men's Chorus of Houston - A Season for Lovers (To Friends and To Life, 1995)
Renaissance City Men's Choir - Sing We Now of Christmas (Holiday Jewels, 2003, Pittsburgh)
Voices of Pride - Gay Chorus of the Palm Beaches - If Not at Christmas (youtube, 2009)
Cincinnati Men's Chorus - Miss Twinkleton's School for Sensitive Boys (A Homemade Holiday, 2002)
Rainy City Gay Men's Chorus - A Date for Christmas (Homo for the Holidays, 2002, Vancouver BC)
Rainy City Gay Men's Chorus - Homo for the Holidays (Homo for the Holidays, 2002)
New Hampshire Gay Men's Chorus - It Must Be the Holiday Season (Nostalgic Holiday, 2001)
Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus - Christmas Time Is Here (Carols, Revels & Holiday Cheer, 1998)
Capital City Men's Chorus - Still Still Still (Northern Lights, 2000, Austin)
Seattle Men's Chorus - Together (Joy, 2001)
Seattle Men's Chorus - Home for the Holidays (Holiday Concert, Captured Live, 1995)
Turtle Creek Chorale - Jalapeno Chorus (Twisted Turtle Tinsel, 1997)

Part 9 - Music by International Choruses - 63:18
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Brisbane Lesbian & Gay Choir - Equality (Equality, 2006)
Gay Liberation Quire - Teddy Bears Picnic (live, 1982, Sydney)
Melbourne Gay & Lesbian Youth Choir - Throw Your Arms Around Me (Count Me In, 2008)
Melbourne Gay & Lesbian Chorus - I Am What I Am (Kaleidoscope, 1996)
Canberra Gay & Lesbian Qwire - Some of My Best Friends Are Straight (ACQwired Taste, 2002)
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir - When We Are Old and Gay (Something To Sing About, 1993)
Queer Floten - Thank You For the Music (Schnitchen, 2001, Frieburg, Germany)
Die Schrillmanner (Karlsruhe, Germany) - Queereality Show (festival performance, 1997)
Schola Cantorosa - Rosarotes Raumschiff (Gays In Space, 1995, Hamburg, Germany)
Manoeuvre - Gay Men's Chorus of Amsterdam - Suddenly Seymour (unreleased, 2008, Amsterdam)
Helsinki Gay Chorus Out 'n Loud - Var Ar Min Midja (Out 'n Loud, 2007)
Carmen Curlers - Sit On My Face (live, 2010, Denmark)
Melo Men - Plaisirs d'Amour (A Tout Choeur, 2006, Paris)
London Gay Men's Chorus - Gimme Gimme Gimme (Hear the Difference, 1998)
Vancouver Men's Chorus - Blind Date (Encore, 2006)
Rainbow Harmony Project - Pride's Child (Rainbow Harmony Project at 10, 2009, Winnipeg)
Deep C Divas - Big Boned Gal (In at the Deep End, 2002, Yorkshire, England)
Stockholm's Gaykor - I Feel Pretty / Wonderful Guy (Love Changes Everything, 2005)
Vancouver Men's Chorus - What Matters (Encore, 2006)
Prairie Pride Chorus - Maybe (Watershed Stories, 2006, Regina, Saskatchewan)
Gloria - Ireland's Lesbian & Gay Choir - Over the Rainbow (Glor Na Siog, 2006)

 

 

 

I have to thank an internet friend of mine, Greg Allen.
He's a member of the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus in Minneapolis, and we've been in touch a few years now. He is an amazing collector of CDs by gay & lesbian choruses, from all over the world, and has cataloged almost 500, and owns most of them. So he's been an incredible source of information and insight that's helped give me a framework to this multi-hour special, not to mention sending me quite a few songs that I requested.


BCPA site

 


Visit the GALA site

GALA Chorus Links & Data

I usually provide artist links, but the GALA website already does a great job of giving that info, and more, just click the link above.

And don't forget to check out the Gallery section, which goes deep into the early recordings of the Gay & Lesbian Choral Movement, and especially into the early history of the Montrose Singers, founded in 1979, and later became the Gay Men's Chorus of Houston....There are photos, programs and sound files galore.

 

 

And, for those curious, the group in the background of this month's banner is the London Gay Men's Chorus, whose image I grabbed from one of their Youtube videos.
I just love the tux with undone tie look...:) Click for the video.