Perhaps Leonard Bernstein’s primary gift to music was his ability to give the gift of music to the world’s children.

The Washington Post

Bravo, Bradley Cooper: ‘Maestro’ is a grand, messy symphony of moments

The director and star of the Leonard Bernstein biopic tells the conductor’s story, and that of his wife (Carey Mulligan), with electric, sometimes scattershot verve

Review by Ann Hornaday

November 29, 2023 at 11:55 a.m. EST

"R. At area theaters; available Dec. 20 on Netflix. Contains some strong language and drug use. 131 minutes."

Music was always a huge part of my brother & my life. Our mom Asunta Pitcherella sang to us as babies. My grandmom Cavallucci was the choir director and organist at the Holy Rosary Church just down Black Horse Hill Rd. In Coatesville. 

My brother Joe known as "Snap" had a huge collection of 45 & 33 ⅓ Rhythm and Blues and Jazz records. I learned to play the bongo drums and appreciate Afro-Cuban music. My brother would take his friends to New York area Jazz clubs. They went to the “Five Spot” in Harlem. 

I remember this album:

My brother taught himself the Blues harp (harmonica.)  He wrote James Cotton about a technique issue. Jame Cotton came to Philly at Warm Daddy’s on Front St.. My brother was having back problems and rode on back seat of my Chevy. We spoke to Mr. Cotton. Afterwards I asked my brother if he understood him. “Not a word.”

Muddy Waters & James Cotton- Got My Mojo Working 1966:

Joe played with a local Chester County blues band.

When he moved to Montana he couldn’t find a blues band. 

He bought a Horner “Chrometta” and worked it so he could use his microphone and found a country & western band to play in. 

1961 in Scott Senior High School, Coatesville PA all the kids in Mr. Daghir’s Meistersingers were nuts about Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.”

Jerry Daghir taught more than music. He taught us how to live our lives. He took some of us under his wing telling stories of Lt. Daghir and his Black sergeant who kept him alive in Korea. He lobbied Coatesville High School football and basketball teams for black athletes with good voices. He molded us. 

Mr. Daghir said that Leonard Bernstein was not a great composer. But he might be the greatest at spreading the love of classical and modern American music to the world. 

The values of “The Greatest Generation” were taught to us by the large number of veterans who used the “GI Bill” to get a degree in education and by my Mom, Dad Aunts and Uncles. 

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Coatesville Meistersingers-- Its tradition

I met the love of my life Betty Cruickshank in Meistersingers. More specifically in an offshoot of Meistersingers named Bell Tones and Red Men. I wore a red jacket & black trousers. Betsy wore a frilly white skirt and a black top. During a break at a concert I spilled hot chocolate on her frilly white skirt. We started dating. 

 When we bought our first home in West Mt. Airy Philadelphia we had an oppurtunity to sing at the Unitarian Church of Germantown. The choir director was Joseph D. Chapline Jr.

Take a short walk in Philadelphia and you will hear a melody. It might be played on a violin. Maybe a saxophone. Maybe a mockingbird. You will hear music in Philadelphia.

Joseph D. Chapline Jr.:

Joseph D. Chapline Jr.

August 2, 1920 – August 8, 2011

Joseph Chapline - Renaissance Man Joseph Chapline, age 91, died peacefully on August 8, 2011 at his home in Newbury, NH surrounded by people he loved and cherished mementos from his accomplished life. 

Born August 2, 1920 in Philadelphia, his love of music developed when he began singing in choirs at the early age of 10. He went on to graduate from Ursinus College with degrees in history and political science as well as a fascination of the English language. Soon Mr. Chapline became a research associate in mathematics at the Moore School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. 

While there, he contributed to the WWII effort by working on the Differential Analyzer. Shortly after the war, Chapline helped to develop the Binac and Eniac; two of the worlds earliest computers. In addition, he mastered the craft of technical writing and produced a comprehensive manual on how to properly operate and maintain the Eniac. Chapline taught well over 200-classes in technical writing. 

In 1953, Chapline returned to his childhood passion of music and was hired as the organist and choirmaster for the Unitarian Church of Germantown in Philadelphia. In addition to the providing the music during weekly Sunday services, Mr. Chapline presented and conducted Bach's Christmas Oratorio nine times and twice performed Britten's Noye's Fludde with his wife, Julea. While there, he championed the cause for a new tracker-action pipe organ, which was graciously dedicated to the church in 1963. 

By 1964, Chapline honed his talents and focused his energy on a new challenge, creating intricate and beautiful pipe organs. Influenced by E. Power Biggs and other established concert and church organists in the Philadelphia area, Chapline toured organ factories in Germany and came home ready to try his hands at building and rebuilding organs. 

Within a year, Chapline mastered the craft and successfully began Chapline Organs. He built and refurbished many fine instruments over the years including the Hook and Hastings Organ which he played at Trinity Episcopal Church in Claremont, NH until his retirement in 2009 at the age of B9. 

During his long and productive life, Chapline hand built 15-instruments and rebuilt 15-others. After thirty years as the Musical Director of the Unitarian Church of Germantown, Chapline retired and moved to Newbury with his wife, Julea. Living on Lake Sunapee was the realization of a life-long dream for both of them. And, although retired, for the next l8-years while living in Newbury, 

Chapline dedicated his time to being the primary organist and choirmaster at St Paul's Episcopal Church in Concord, NH. Throughout his remaining years, he also played other organs and led many different choirs in various worshiping communities including Jewish Synagogues, Protestant, and Roman Catholic Churches. One of the priests at St Paul's Episcopal so poignantly stated "he played with insight and depth and joy and enthusiasm Joe Chapline did indeed play music with all of his heart. 

Joseph Chapline's beloved wife Julea (Stad) Chapline, died in 1991. He is survived by his children Suzanne Chapline Day and Philip Chapline, five granddaughters, three great grandchildren, all of whom are living in the Philadelphia area and his partner, Rod Torbert of Newbury. A Service in Celebration of the life of Joseph Chapline will be held on Saturday August 20, 2011 at 2 pm at St Paul's Episcopal Church, Centre Street, Concord, NH. A reception for all who attend will be held following the service in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Lake Sunapee VNA & Hospice, PO Box 2209, New London, NH, 03257-2209. Bennett Funeral Home, located at 209 N. Main Street in Concord is graciously assisting the family with these arrangements.

I can’t sing anymore. My throat is messed up by too many plastic tubes shoved into my trachea during surgery. 

But I can listen and play music in my head. 😊