From: Larkins, Clifford ’67
Subject: To Choirmates/Update Choir Project
Date: April 21, 2008 6:22:59 PM GMT-04:00
To: HPHSChoir1957, HPHSChoir1958, HPHSChoir1959, HPHSChoir1960,
HPHSChoir1961, HPHSChoir1962, HPHSChoir1963, HPHSChoir1964 HPHSChoir1965,
HPHSChoir1966, HPHSChoir1967, HPHSChoir1968, HPHSChoir1969, HPHSChoirFriends
Subject:Gifford/JFK CD-Ready for Distribution
Dear HPHS Concert Choir Alumni, Classmates, Family Members, and Friends:
I am happy to announce that the "Gifford CD" is now ready for distribution and that I will start mailing them tomorrow. I call it the Gifford CD because it is indeed a tribute to our beloved Mr. Gifford and features two of the compositions he wrote for us, Let the word go forth: 6 excerpts from the inaugural address of John F. Kennedy and At This Farewell, which was written for our graduation ceremonies. However, I believe that there are many of you who would never have forgiven me if I had let the other songs from the tapes fade into obscurity (regardless of the quality of the performance). Therefore, I decided to expand this forth CD to include not only Mr. Gifford's two compositions, but also to include all of the music that was not included on the first three CDs. The CD actually contains four songs composed by Mr. Gifford. In addition, it includes choral performances from the Concert Choir Girls 1963, the English Singers 1963, "The Dusters" 1963 (including Yellow Bird and my favorite, The Butcher Boy). It includes an Oboe solo by Linda Ohanesian '66 accompanied by Susan Artinian '66, and vocal solos by Victor Sabraw '66, Gretchen Fogel '66, and Jeremiah Hassel '67. I have not excluded the community college choir; they were top notch. This CD also contains the Community College Ensemble, Christmas 1968 and some brilliant solo vocal performances by members of that choir. When you receive this forth CD, you can either store it as a single CD or place it and its 4 panel booklet in the three CD box you already have in your possession to make a 4-CD "box set".
Because of the donations I received and because I avoided professional help until absolutely necessary, I was able to keep the cost to you down. The following is a rough breakdown of the costs for each CD: Transfer cost = .26 ($26), Graphic Design and production costs = $4.90 ($490 for 100), bubble mailers = .60 ($60 for 100), postage = $3.20 each ($320 for 100), and Licensing of songs = $3.33 ($333 for 11 songs not in public domain). This breakdown adds up to about $1,229.00 total or $12.29/CD. This total does not include extraneous costs such as mailing announcements to choirmates with no computer, printing paper, ink, phone calls to find choir members, CDs sent to publishers, CDs sent to composers, CDs sent to UM music library, my hours of time spent learning and doing audio editing and graphic design, etc. etc. It also assumes that I will be able to sell all 100 copies. From the breakdown, the hidden costs, and costs still to surface, I felt that a fair cost to you would be $12.29 per CD and that includes mailing.
If you would like to purchase a copy of the "Gifford CD", please send $12.29 to me at the address below. I will be away from Ypsilanti frequently during the spring and summer, so please send me an e-mail message letting me know the day you mailed the check, it may help to get the CD to you more quickly.
Well, that is all for now but there is a great deal of excitement and activity going on related to this project (including another memory from Mr. Sturdevant), and as soon as I can catch my breath, I will pass the news on to you.
Love,
Clifford Larkins, (class of 1967)