Dear HPHS Concert Choir Alumni, Classmates, Family Members, and Friends:
In my last message I announced the discovery of two of Mr. Gifford’s songs, the JFK composition entitled, Let the word go forth: 6 excerpts from the inaugural address of John F. Kennedy and At This Farewell, written for our graduation ceremonies. (Can you imagine, a high school that had its own composer in residence writing brilliant music just for us!) I also mentioned that I was concerned about potential problems with the original tape because the digital copy Paul Gifford sent me contained some noise distortion, thumps and clicks that occurred at unpredictable intervals. I asked Paul to send me the original tape, which he did. I took it to a local recording studio so that they could play it on their professional equipment and I have now found that the tape is in mint condition: there is essentially no noise (for a 43 year old tape). It is all too good to be true that after 43 years of wondering about this music, we find an excellent copy of the original tape. I had the tape transferred onto a CD while I waited, so now I have a good master CD from which I can make copies to send to you. This transfer only cost me $26.00.
I would like to thank those of you who responded by offering financial help as well as technical assistance and for encouraging me to somehow find a way to distribute this brilliant musical composition to our choir mates. This music not only documents an important period in our childhood, but it also documents an important period in the history of this country. Paul told me that his family sent a copy of the tape to the Kennedy Center some years ago. However, I propose that we now produce a “polished” CD and send the Kennedy Center a copy that the Kennedy family and visitors to the Kennedy Center can actually hear and enjoy.
I have checked the copyright records in Washington, D.C. via the internet and I know for sure that the music was created in 1964. From your e-mails I have also established that it was sung as early as 1964 and as late as 1968. I received a number of messages from choir members who remembered singing the music, and Paul Merritt’s ’64 message below exemplifies their responses:
Clifford, I believe that the Choir that I was in 1963-64 was the first to perform Mr. Gifford’s JFK composition. I remember he and Mr. Sturdevant bringing it to us brand new, and I think the first time we sang it was at an outdoor assembly in front of the high school. They held a memorial assembly in honor of President Kennedy after he was assassinated and we sang Mr. Gifford’s song at that assembly. It was really something to see because Glendale was jammed with traffic and the surrounding community participated. I don’t remember if we recorded that performance, but I do remember we were on an accelerated learning curve to prepare for it and “qualifying” was not easy. I remember how beautiful it was, it brought us to tears. Mr. Gifford, who played so beautifully and passionately, had tears streaming down his face. Again I’m willing to bet that may be that [1964] choir. Paul Merritt ’64.
Well, the choir performing on the tape remains a mystery for now, but once you hear the music, some of you will surely identify the narrator by his voice, and then we will be able to determine the year of the recording. I can also add an additional clue. It is clear to me that this recording was not done outside at a memorial day celebration. No, it is surely performed indoors and under a very controlled environment—well controlled and well rehearsed. In fact, the sound quality is so good—in comparison to the other tapes I have restored—that I would say that the performance is as close to a studio performance as we could have accomplished at that time.
The lyrics of the second Gifford composition, At This Farewell, is an extract from the conclusion of a poem composed by William Wordsworth in anticipation of leaving school in 1786. As far as I can tell the song is not under copyright protection, and therefore, I have not been able to determine the exact year it was created. I mentioned in my last announcement that I did not remember singing this song. Well, it turns out that my memory is failing me, because after consulting with Mr. Sturdevant, he informed me that I should remember the song because my class, 1967, performed it at our graduation ceremony at Ford Auditorium in Detroit. (Maybe when I am 87 my memory will improve.) He also reminded me that the performance was quite a spectacle because the choir assembled underneath the stage and as we were being introduced we came rising out of the depths, and on cue began singing At This Last Farewell with skill, with precision, and with all our hearts. Wow, can you imagine the stir that must have caused. As soon as he reminded me of this, the memories came flooding back. It certainly must have been the highlight of the 1967 graduation ceremony for everyone present. Now, the more I hear this composition the more I like it.
Now we have to decide how to package this music for the choir members. It could be as simple as burning copies from my computer and sending you a copy, or I could invest more time and a little money and produce a CD that would be a keep sake for us and one that the Kennedy family and the Kennedy Center would be proud to listen to and display. I believe that we can produce one CD fairly inexpensively $10.00-$15.00 per CD for you; however, I will not know the exact cost until I decide on the exact number of CDs, the CD cover graphics and the content and graphics for the insert. (I promise to keep it simple in order to keep the cost down.)
If you add up the actual cost of making the first batch of CDs (which some of you received) as well as the second CDs (that all of you received), the average cost per gift to you exceeds $50.00, but that cost even now continues to rise. My current plan is to pay out of my pocket and accept donations to produce 50 CDs. I believe that $1000 should cover the cost of production and mailing. If the donations cover the cost, I will distribute them free as before; otherwise, I will charge and make the price of the CDs cover the cost of production, not to exceed $15.00/CD. We are lucky to have discovered this treasure so somehow we must make this happen. Once I get more input from you and know the exact cost, I will contact you again.
Your loving choir mate,
Clifford Larkins, (class of 1967)