The Chattertocks of Brown University
Encyclopedia
Founded over fifty years ago, The Chattertocks of Brown University
, together with the Smiffenpoofs
of Smith College
, the V8s of Mt. Holyoke College and the Mischords of Middlebury College
, is one of the oldest women's college a cappella singing groups in the United States.
class of 1955, together with the late Helen Johnson, also class of 1955, founded the Chattertocks women's a cappella group in 1951. The group was started by members of the dormitory, Sharpe House, as a parody of the Brown Jabberwocks, the men's a cappella
group. The Jabberwocks were rehearsing for an inter-dormitory talent competition. Intent on winning first place, they kept to a strict rehearsal schedule. The ladies were annoyed that their boyfriends were more concerned with rehearsing than spending time with them. They formed the Chattertocks, as a parody
of the Jabberwocks, and as such performed in men's grey flannel suits, white button-down oxford shirts, striped ties and white buck shoes. They rehearsed their own song for the talent show, and won first place.
No longer performing in grey flannel suits, the group has continued to grow and evolve with the changing times. The Chattertocks started recording early on with a number of vinyl albums. In the mid-1960s they added guitar and percussion back-up, both common for college singing groups. In 1982 they added choreography and comedy skits to their concerts.
A tradition for the Chattertocks has been performing "The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)
" in Latin at the annual Brown University Latin Carol Service, established in 1948. “Duodecem Dies Natalis” was translated into Latin by Eunice Burr Couch and to this day is performed by “Grex Chattertockarum,” literally, the "Herd of Chattertocks."
Another Chattertocks tradition is performing with The Brown Derbies
in their annual concert, "Smoked Salomon," which occurs every September in Salomon Hall. The Chattertocks traditionally perform "S/NC," a parody of Brown's school culture and non-traditional grading system set to the tune of The Beatles
' "Let It Be."
. In more recent years, the Chattertocks have maintained their rich tradition of excellence, taking home "Best Album" and "Best Song" in the 2004 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. Their 2003 CD, "All Modesty Aside," won an award for best female collegiate album. Most recently the Chattertocks were selected to be on the "Best of College A Cappella" CD of 2011, juried and chosen by Varsity Vocals.
" by Richard Rogers
and Lorenz Hart
appearing on each one.
Several of their alumnae, such as Gwyneth Walker
(composer), Susan C. Bennett (commercial vocalist), Ellen Turner Harris, (Professor of Music at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
) and Stephanie Cotsirillos (performer) have gone on to become successful musicians and performers.
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, together with the Smiffenpoofs
Smiffenpoofs
Formed in 1936 at Smith College, the Smiffenpoofs are the oldest all-female collegiate a cappella group in the nation. The group's founding came shortly after a group of Smithies attended a picnic with students from their brother school, Yale University, in Northampton, MA, where the Yale...
of Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, the V8s of Mt. Holyoke College and the Mischords of Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
, is one of the oldest women's college a cappella singing groups in the United States.
History
Nancy Tobin, Dorothy Senerchia, Pembroke College (Brown University)Pembroke College (Brown University)
Pembroke College in Brown University was the coordinate women's college for Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1891 and closed in 1971.-Founding and early history:...
class of 1955, together with the late Helen Johnson, also class of 1955, founded the Chattertocks women's a cappella group in 1951. The group was started by members of the dormitory, Sharpe House, as a parody of the Brown Jabberwocks, the men's a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group. The Jabberwocks were rehearsing for an inter-dormitory talent competition. Intent on winning first place, they kept to a strict rehearsal schedule. The ladies were annoyed that their boyfriends were more concerned with rehearsing than spending time with them. They formed the Chattertocks, as a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of the Jabberwocks, and as such performed in men's grey flannel suits, white button-down oxford shirts, striped ties and white buck shoes. They rehearsed their own song for the talent show, and won first place.
No longer performing in grey flannel suits, the group has continued to grow and evolve with the changing times. The Chattertocks started recording early on with a number of vinyl albums. In the mid-1960s they added guitar and percussion back-up, both common for college singing groups. In 1982 they added choreography and comedy skits to their concerts.
A tradition for the Chattertocks has been performing "The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)
The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an English Christmas carol that enumerates a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas. Although first published in England in 1780, textual evidence may indicate the song is French in origin...
" in Latin at the annual Brown University Latin Carol Service, established in 1948. “Duodecem Dies Natalis” was translated into Latin by Eunice Burr Couch and to this day is performed by “Grex Chattertockarum,” literally, the "Herd of Chattertocks."
Another Chattertocks tradition is performing with The Brown Derbies
The Brown Derbies
The Brown Derbies is an all-male a capella group at Brown University. They were established in 1982 and have released ten albums. They sing a variety of different genres, ranging from Rock, to Barbershop, to R&B and are known in the a cappella community for their unique use of syllables in the...
in their annual concert, "Smoked Salomon," which occurs every September in Salomon Hall. The Chattertocks traditionally perform "S/NC," a parody of Brown's school culture and non-traditional grading system set to the tune of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "Let It Be."
Awards
The Chattertocks have recorded several CDs and have competed successfully in the National Championship of College A Cappella (NCCA) since the competition's inception in 1996. In 1998 the Chattertocks were in the NCCA finals, which were held in Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. In more recent years, the Chattertocks have maintained their rich tradition of excellence, taking home "Best Album" and "Best Song" in the 2004 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. Their 2003 CD, "All Modesty Aside," won an award for best female collegiate album. Most recently the Chattertocks were selected to be on the "Best of College A Cappella" CD of 2011, juried and chosen by Varsity Vocals.
Current activities
Today the group performs at colleges around the country appearing on campuses and local television stations. They have produced nine CDs with their signature song, "My Funny ValentineMy Funny Valentine
"My Funny Valentine" is a show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms in which it was introduced by former child star Mitzi Green...
" by Richard Rogers
Richard Rogers
Richard George Rogers, Baron Rogers of Riverside CH Kt FRIBA FCSD is a British architect noted for his modernist and functionalist designs....
and Lorenz Hart
Lorenz Hart
Lorenz "Larry" Milton Hart was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart...
appearing on each one.
Several of their alumnae, such as Gwyneth Walker
Gwyneth Walker
-Personal:Walker grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut and is a graduate of Pembroke College in Brown University and the Hartt School of Music and holds B.A., M.M., and D.M.A. degrees in music composition...
(composer), Susan C. Bennett (commercial vocalist), Ellen Turner Harris, (Professor of Music at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
) and Stephanie Cotsirillos (performer) have gone on to become successful musicians and performers.
External links
- http://www.brown.edu/Students/Chattertocks/ The Chattertocks
- http://www.brown.edu Brown University
- http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/Databases/Encyclopedia/search.php?serial=M0460 Encyclopedia Brunoniana by Martha Mitchell, copyright ©1993 by the Brown University Library.
- http://www.susancbennett.com/sb_main.htm Susan C. Bennett
- http://www.gwynethwalker.com/ Gwyneth Walker
- http://www.brownderbies.com/ The Brown Derbies
- http://www.jabberwocks.com/ The Jabberwocks