On the Radar: The Pitches

A cappella is certainly not everyone’s thing, for some good reason. The stereotypes of collegiate life, the paucity of knock-out talent, and the proliferation of such tired or terrible numbers as “Like A Prayer” and “Walking in Memphis” (terrible, n’est pas?) have marred the image of this no-instruments genre, to the great detriment of those talented groups who can turn heads with their song and who preserve different and unique kinds of vocal music. Two such groups share a stage this Friday, when the Radcliffe Pitches celebrate 30 years as Harvard’s premiere female a cappella ensemble with a jam alongside their longtime male counterparts, the Harvard Krokodiloes, who as the story goes, supported the infantile Pitches 30 years back with scandalous poster artistry advertising their tryouts. In an act of thanks to the Kroks for their years of support, the Pitches will be debuting a duet between the two groups, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” arranged by Alexis Tumolo ’06, the group’s current president. Tumolo notes that beyond the debuted material, “a 30th Anniversary isn't a particularly momentous one—it really just works because it is a multiple of 5.”

In addition to the duet, two Pitches making their final appearances with the group, Tumolo and Katie Monticchio ’06 will be premiering original arrangements of “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen” and “Always True to You In My Fashion,” respectively. Another debut at the well-attended annual concert will be a new compact disc of Pitches’ a cappella from the past year. Tumolo describes the CD as “a 30th anniversary tribute, featuring Pitch classics as well as new arrangements.” Songs rendered a cappella on the CD include “My Funny Valentine” and “Makin’ Whoopee.” Guests from throughout the Pitches’ tenure at Harvard will also be on hand for this anniversary celebration, which coincides with the Valentine’s Day tradition of Pitch and Krok united on the Sanders stage to demonstrate the awesome range of the unaccompanied human voice. Year after year the event proves to be (at least on paper) an excellent date night. Tickets available from the Harvard Box Office. 8pm. $12; students $8. Sanders Theater.