Russian Folk Song-The Birch Tree sung by the Eastern Lebanon County Middle School Choral Ensemble from Myerstown, PA.  David F. Sheaffer, Choral Director
This selection was part of a program sung for the 2009 PA Music Educators State Conference in Valley Forge, PA.  This song was sung entirely in Russian.

The Birch Tree - Russian Folk Song

Recorded in Marietta (1979-80?) The Sharks: Sam Rawhauser (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Doug Phillips (Drums), Steve Wettig (Guitar), and Dave Sheaffer(Bass)  The first recording by the first version of the band.

You Better Watch Her (First Recording)

This is a recording of the 2009 PMEA State Conference performance of the Russian Folk Song "The Birch Tree" by the ELCO Middle School Choral Ensemble.  This is a very intricate and complex arrangement sung completely in Russian, thanks to the members of the ensemble who were fluent in the language.  The singers must navigate each verse in a different manner, sometimes changing keys without any sort of transition.  I am so proud of my middle school singers who were fearless in taking on the challenge of music like this and performing it with precision and artistry that is usually demanded from singer twice their age.  

"This Little Babe" from Benjamin Birtten's "Ceremony of Carols" performed by The Eastern Lebanon County Middle School Choral Ensemble accompanied on piano by very capable and gifted young pianist Alina Chekanov. During the middle of the 2000 decade, the Choral Ensembles were willing to attempt major works and the director was inspired to attempt as many sections of this work as possible within a few years, This recording was done during our performance at the 2006 Heritage Children's Choir Festival held in Riverside Church in New York City. The ambience you hear is the actual delay in the wonderful space at Riverside Church.
David F. Sheaffer, Director.

This Little Babe - ELCO MS Choral Ensemble at Heritage Children's Choir Festival NYC

Trying to identify the bird call in the distance.  A Hermit Thrush?

Bird Call Recording

"Fly With the Eagles", was recorded by The Sharks, a Lancaster, PA-based New Wave band who was enlisted to re-record a version that Philadelphia radio station WMMR had previously recorded by superimposing a vocal track over the original Steve Miller recording to use as a promotional song for the Philadelphia Eagles' participation in Super Bowl XV against the Oakland Raiders.  The Sharks were involved with recording songs at Philadelphia's Graveyard Sound Recording Studio at the time and WMMR contacted the band's producer Billy Terrell to come in late at night to quickly record another version.  Apparently, Steve Miller's management threatened legal action due to copyright issues but some sort of deal was worked out that this recording could be made. The band was to play at a victory party following the game but, as fate would have it, the Eagles lost to the Raiders.  No party. Members of the band include singer/guitarist Sam "Lugar" Rawhauser, guitarist Steve "Zero" Wettig, drummer Doug Phillips, and bassist David Sheaffer.  The record was made on green vinyl and completely sold out all copies that were produced.  Proceeds from the record went to the "Eagles Fly For Leukemia Fund".

WMMR

Fly With the Eagles 1981 - The Sharks (Recorded for WMMR Radio Philadelphia)

"Like the Weather" is the title track from Broca's Brain's 1990 album.  Broca's Brain was a Lancaster PA-based band consisting of Beatrix Greiner(keyboards/vocals), Peter Barnhart(drums/percussion/vocals), Jay Sorrentino (drums/vocals), Andy Harrison(guitar/vocals), David Sheaffer(fretless bass/vocals. The majority of album was recorded at David Sheaffer's Zen Studio and four additional songs recorded at Lebanon Valley College's recording facility in Annville, PA.  The digital masters have been recently resurrected and the process of remastering is in the works now that a Sony PCM 701ES F1-format processor has been found.

Like the Weather (title track)

"Sometimes Death" is the third track from Broca's Brain's 1990 album. Broca's Brain was a Lancaster PA-based band consisting of Beatrix Greiner(keyboards/vocals), Peter Barnhart(drums/percussion/lead vocals), Jay Sorrentino (drums/vocals), Andy Harrison(guitar/vocals), David Sheaffer(fretless bass/vocals, and guest soprano saxophonist Matt Stem. The majority of the album was recorded at David Sheaffer's Zen Studio and four additional songs recorded at Lebanon Valley College's recording facility in Annville, PA. The digital masters have been recently resurrected and the process of remastering is in the works now that a Sony PCM 701ES F1-format processor has been found.

Like the Weather

Sometimes Death

Moscow Nights was performed on a concert program presented by the Eastern Lebanon County Middle School Choral Ensemble (David F. Sheaffer-Director) at the 2008 American Choral Directors Association Eastern Division Convention held in Hartford, Connecticut.  The concert program was designed to reflect the growing cultural diversity of the school district and included selections from Russia, Africa, Philippine Islands, Italy, Pa Dutch, as well as other American Folk Songs.  This beautiful Russian selection is sung in English and Russian.

ACDA Eastern Division COncert '08

Moscow Nights - ELCO Middle School Choral Ensemble-ACDA Eastern Division Concert '08

Kalinka was performed on a concert program presented by the Eastern Lebanon County Middle School Choral Ensemble (David F. Sheaffer-Director) at the 2008 American Choral Directors Association Eastern Division Convention held in Hartford, Connecticut. The concert program was designed to reflect the growing cultural diversity of the school district and included selections from Russia, Africa, Philippine Islands, Italy, Pa Dutch, as well as other American Folk Songs. This beautiful Russian selection is sung entirely in Russian.

Kalinka - ELCO Middle School Choral Ensemble-ACDA Eastern Division Concert '08

This is an excerpt from the Eastern Lebanon County (Myerstown, PA) Middle School Choral Ensemble's adjudication performance at the Heritage Children's Choir Festival held at Riverside Church in New York City in early May of 2012.  David F. Sheaffer is the ensemble's teacher/conductor who retired from teaching a month after this performance. This is the performance of "The Heart Is a Vineyard", a commissioned work by Lancaster, PA Composer Alisa Bair with Baritone Joshua Jeremiah as soloist.  This recording includes comments by Festival Adjudicator Dr. Sandra Snow who gave a glowing review of the performance as well as the composition itself.  A great memory for all involved.

ELCO Middle Sch Choral Ensemble '12- The Heart Is a Vineyard Adjudication Comments Dr. Sandra Snow

"OSHA Don't Care" is one in a series of six original songs recorded by the first version of the Lancaster PA band The Sharks which included singer/guitarist Sam "Lugar" Rawhauser, guitarist Steve "Zero" Wettig, drummer Doug Phillips, and bassist David Sheaffer.  It was recorded in Philadelphia at Graveyard Sound and produced by Billy Terrell.  These recordings never made it to production.

Graveyard Sound Recordings

OSHA Don't Care

A live recording of "12 O'Clock High" a cover of this Dirty Looks song by the Lancaster PA band The Sharks in 1980 which included singer/guitarist Sam "Lugar" Rawhauser, guitarist Steve "Zero" Wettig, drummer Doug Phillips, and bassist David Sheaffer.  The performance was done at the Reading, PA club Hugo's, a regular Monday night gig by the band which filled to place to capacity every Monday.

Live at Hugo's 1980

12 O'Clock High (by Dirty Looks) covered by The Sharks

23 Skidoo was a Lancaster/Harrisburg-based Alternative Rock Band from the early 1990s. The band consisted of singer/guitarist Joe Pisapia,  guitarist Steve Ward, bassist David Sheaffer, and drummer Ross Sackler. The band recorded an album of songs written by Joe and Steve but there was never any official release of a produced album. This song was among the compilation of original music by the band. The band coined a term to classify their music as Appalachian Hip hop. Steve and Ross went on to form Cherry Twister after Joe left the band to move to Nashville where he first formed his band Joe, Marc's Brother with David playing bass on some of the tracks on the JMB Debut CD recorded at famed Ardent Studios in Memphis, TN. Joe has continued with a successful career as a songwriter with artists such as Guster and kd Lang. Steve continues to produce his own music.  Ross plays in a Harrisburg-band Smooth Like Clyde.  David completed a 35-year career as a successful Music Educator/Choral Director and continues to be a free-lance musician in the Lancaster-Harrisburg area.

David F. Sheaffer

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