STAMPEDE CITY CHORUS
|
|
WHAT IS
BARBERSHOP?
The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) is devoted to promoting, preserving, and enjoying a special form of harmony known as barbershop. But what makes a particular song or arrangement "barbershop-able"? What's the difference between barbershop and doo-wop, jazz, madrigal, and other a cappella music?
The President of SPEBSQSA, Roger Lewis, is promoting the theme for the Society: "Singing is Life...The Rest is Just Details". To see the new video on this theme click here.
Technically speaking, barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied singing with three voices harmonizing to the melody. The lead usually sings the melody, with the tenor harmonizing above the lead. The bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes and the baritone provides in-between notes, either above or below the lead to make chords (specifically, dominant-type or "barbershop" sevenths) that give barbershop its distinctive, "full" sound.
Probably the most distinctive facet of barbershop harmony is the phenomenon known as expanded sound. It is created when the harmonics in the individually-sung tones reinforce each other to produce audible overtones or undertones. Barbershoppers call this "ringing a chord." Singing in a quartet or chorus and creating that "fifth voice" is one of the most thrilling musical sensations you'll ever experience, leading to goosebumps the size of golf balls.
BARBERSHOP TUTORIAL: Take 5 minutes to take a quick tutorial about Barbershop harmony.
BARBERSHOP JUKEBOX: Listen to some music recorded by some of the top Choruses and Quartets by going to the society's Jukebox pages.
Please report website problems to: Webmaster