There have been many student choral groups throughout the history of the University. The most long-lived was the St. John’s College Glee Club. This all-male choir formed in 1927.  For a few years during World War II, the group was discontinued, but was again active in 1947, when the Reverend Robert L. Rivard, C.M. became director.  The Glee Club was highly successful, and was regularly featured on radio broadcasts and television programs. One notable milestone occurred in the spring of 1950 when the Glee Club cut a three-record album of some of their most popular secular and religious pieces.  All but one of the selections was sung in four-part harmony without musical accompaniment.  Two of the numbers on the album hold a special significance to the University – “Alma Mater” written by the Reverend Carroll Rosensteel, C.M. and completed by the Reverend Thomas Ryan, C.M., and “Hymn to St. John’s” composed by Father Rivard.

In 1975 the Men’s Glee Club joined forces with the Women’s Glee Club to become a mixed chorus.

Roveland-Brenton, Blythe.   “Gleeful Harmony: A look back at St. John’s Singing Groups.”  St. John’s University Magazine: For Alumni and Friends of the University, Fall 2007.  pp. 44-46.

In this podcast, alumnus and author, Richard Vetere shares insights of writing a book and modified screenplay.

StJ LibLOG Author podcast: Richard Vetere

Today’s podcast features poet Maria Mazziotti Gillan, Founder and Executive Director of the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College, who shares  poems of  life and love and growing up in Paterson, NJ.

StJ LibLOG Poetry podcast: Maria Mazziotti Gillan

Podcasting is a growing means of communicating information.  This [blog entry] aims to introduce faculty to the role that podcasting is … playing in academia, and provide a preview of some of the podcasting initiatives at the St. John’s University Libraries.

What is a Podcast? 
A podcast is a type of informational broadcast that is saved as an audio file (generally in mp3 format) which can be uploaded to a server, and delivered to listeners at their convenience.  The term “podcast” is somewhat of a misnomer.  The neologism was proposed in order to convey the idea that this type of communication is highly-portable (allowing for place-shifted information access) and could be played back at a time that was most convenient to the audience (allowing for time-shifted information access).  The term podcast also enjoyed the advantage of rhyming with “broadcast,” so innovators capitalized on the association that listeners had with broadcasting and iPods; but, it should be noted that these audio files can be downloaded to any mp3-compatible player, including computer desktops, laptops or a variety personal listening/handheld devices. 

How can the libraries’ podcasts be useful to you?
The St. John’s University Libraries have started to create podcasts of library lectures, student service learning essay winners, an audio tour of the Queens library,  invited guest speakers,  Vincentian Center presentations, as well as faculty and student panels which reflect on academic life and St. John’s experiences.  These projects are aimed at enlivening academic and student-life engagement, enriching faculty resources, and promoting the kinds of mission-oriented projects that make St. John’s a unique educational environment.

* * * * update March 1, 2009 *****

LIBlog Readers can access all the podcasts the library has recorded — in conjunction with other St. John’s offices on our API LibGuide;  or you can subscribe to all the LIBlog podcasts using iTunes or using other Podcatchers through our Podcast feed.  For more on finding external-podcast resources you can incorporate in your classroom, check out our Podcasts for Research and Fun LibGuide.

To read more information on the evolution podcasting in academia and on the podcasting initiative at St. John’s Libraries, visit our API LibGuide  or listen to the original 2005 article in podcast form.