What is the Acappella Barbershop Style?

Today we meet at the local coffee shop. But in the late 1800’s the African American Communities in the US met, often at the local barbershop where, invariably someone would start singing a common melody (the LEAD line). Of course, singing promotes singing so pretty soon someone would add a low harmony part underneath this (BASS) to which someone else would add a high harmony part above the melody (TENOR). To fill out the sound a fourth person would add a harmony line in between the Bass and Tenor notes (Baritone).

This rich, full, close harmony sound was contagious. Known as barbershop, it soon spread throughout North America and now has chapters all over the world. As a non-audition chorus, Stampede City Chorus perpetuates this culture where all singers of any gender can join us for the camaraderie, harmony, and fun that the barbershop style brings.

For more information on the barbershop choral style visit the Barbershop Harmony Society: https://www.barbershop.org/music/about-our-music.