Barbershop Singing MarianWeaver

MusicalDirector,HighlandHarmony.

History

• Barbers’musicmayhavestartedduringElizabethanperiod

• AfeatureofAfrican–Americanbarbers,southernUSA

•  Evolvedthereinthe1800s

• Mostlytriadicwithharmonyontop

•  Lotsofimprovisation,“slidesandsnakes”

History/cont •  Early1900sverypopular

•  SomeRecordings•  EgHaydnQuartet(startedasEdisonQuartet)• Quartetseverywhere,streetcorners

•  Earlyimageofquartetspersists

James Weldon Johnson

• BlackAmericancivilrightsleader

• Politician,Lawyer,musician

• Wrotealternativesongto“StarSpangledBanner”

• Promotedthesearchforgoodchordsthat“ring”

Barbershop Songs early 1900s

•  SweetAdeline(stillsungtoday)

•  TakeMeOuttotheBallgame

• BytheLightoftheSilveryMoon

•  IntheGoodOldSummertime

Minstrels •  Late1800swhiteminstrelswithblackenedfaces• Madelotsofrecordingsearly1900s(Africansseldomrecorded)TinPanAlleyera

•  Leftoffsomeembellishmentsoforiginalsoundthatwouldn’trecordwell

•  Infuseditwithsomeoftheirowntraditions-hybridsoundcreated

•  Stereotypeofbarbershopsingerslockedin.

1920s to 1930s •  1920sandearly1930sevolutionofjazz

• Barbershopsinginghadallbutdisappeared

•  1938OwenCash&RupertHallmetinaKansashotel,“woodshedding“

• OrganisedmeetingofsingersinTulsa-hugelypopular-branchesestablishedacrossUSA.

•  FormationofSPEBQSA-SocietyforthePreservationandEncouragementofBarberShopQuartetSinginginAmerica

Barbershop Harmony Society

• Chaptersworldwide•  IncludingJapan,Germany,Sweden,England

• Arrangersproducemusicinbarbershopstyle

• Annualregionalcompetitionsandannualinternationalevent

Barbershop in New Zealand • Chorusesinallmaincentres

•  InternationalwinningquartetMusicalIslandBoys

•  Internationalplacementchorus-VocalFX–Tawa

• Annualcompetitions

• Annualcoachingschools,localcoachingevents

Sweet Adelines

•  Formedin1947-women’sorganisation

• Chaptersinmanycountries

• VeryadvancedinNewZealand

• ChristchurchCityChorus5thinInternationalOpenDivision2017

• WellingtonCityChoruswonInternationalMidSizeDivision2018

Sections

•  Firsttenor(harmonypart)

•  SecondTenor(lead,singsmelody)

• Baritone(harmonypart)

• Bass(lowestharmonynotes,driverofrhythm)

Features of Barbershop Style • Closeharmony,oftenwithinanoctave

• Consonant,notdissonantsound

• Homophonicchords

• Objectiveisto“ring”chords

• Augmentedanddiminishedchordsandembellishmentsusedforeffect

Essentials for Good Sound

• Open,resonantsinging

• Matchedvowels

•  Synchronisedwordsandbreaths

• Accuratetuning,“Pythagorean”tuning

• Balancingchords

Assessment Criteria Competitions

• Music–strengthofarrangement,embellishments,phrasing

• Presentation–isitbelievable:?-unity

•  Singing–qualityofsound-energy,dynamics,synchronisation

Benefits of Barbershop •  Singersmaynotbemusicreaders–audiolearningtracksprovided• Givesopportunitytoparticipatewithlimitedmusicalknowledge

• Voicequalitythebestapersoncanbe-notnecessarilysoloist

• Allages,shapes,sizes,colours

• Goodformentalhealth,stressfultimes

• Goodforlunghealthandstamina.

Other Benefits •  Learnmoreaboutmusic

• Organisationalskills

•  Friendshipslocally,nationallyandinternationally

•  Entertainingcommunitygroups

• Portable!Onlyequipmentrequiredisapitchpipe!

Bernie’sBoys