On this day, April 11, in 1936, The SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) was founded.
The
Barbershop Harmony Society, legally and historically named the Society
for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in
America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA), is the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop music as an art form.
vinyl LP front cover
photo by Styrous®
I
have always loved the sound of male voices in harmony and a barber shop
quartet represents for me the ultimate in unaccompanied male vocal. The
voices can range from a deep resonant bass to the high pitch of the Countertenor.
The barber shop quartet genre is dominated by male singers but the The Chordettes (remember Mr. Sandman?) did pretty great renditions of many songs of the genre (links below).
The barber shop quartet genre is dominated by male singers but the The Chordettes (remember Mr. Sandman?) did pretty great renditions of many songs of the genre (links below).
vinyl LP back cover
photo by Styrous®
Wikipedia describes the genre as:
"Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era (1930s–present), is a style of a cappella close harmony, or unaccompanied vocal music, characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture. Each of the four parts has its own role: generally, the lead sings the melody, the tenor harmonizes above the melody, the bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes, and the baritone completes the chord, usually below the lead. The melody is not usually sung by the tenor or baritone, except for an infrequent note or two to avoid awkward voice leading, in tags or codas, or when some appropriate embellishment can be created. One characteristic feature of barbershop harmony is the use of what is known as "snakes" and "swipes". This is when a chord is altered by a change in one or more non-melodic voices."
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Even though barbershop is considered an American invention, the idea had
its roots in England. During the 1600s, British barbers kept a cittern
(a stringed instrument similar to a lute) handy for their customers to
strum while awaiting their shave and haircut. Sometimes customers got
inventive and did things like fill candlesticks with coins to add a
little percussion to the mix. The resulting cacophony was referred to as
“barber’s music.”
In
the 1830s, the local barbershop was a common gathering place for men.
Sometimes to while away the hours on his feet, the barber would start
crooning a tune. Eventually, patrons added their harmonies in a
call-and-response type format.
The oversized mustaches, striped jackets and straw hats were added in the hayday of Vaudeville
throughout the 1870s and 1880s. The quartets were used in front of the
curtain to entertain while other acts were setting up. In order to be
seen by those in the “cheap seats” they wore distinctive costumes.
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
One of the great quartet songs, I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen,
is represented on the album. It is a languid tune, bittersweet and sad
about the return of the singer's loved one, now grown old or perhaps
dead, to the land from which they came; it is not mentioned but the
implication is Ireland (link below). Written by Thomas P. Westendorf in 1875, the music is supposedly based on
the andante from the Violin Concerto in E Flat Minor Opus 64, by Felix Mendelssohn; listen for yourself and decide (link below).
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Barber shop quartets are still vibrant to this day. The SPEBSQSA holds an annual competition that is attended by many. The winner of the 2017 International Quartet Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, was Main Street who didn't begin singing until 2011. They won with the classic song, Down By the Old Mill Stream (link below).
vinyl LP, side 1
photo by Styrous®
vinyl LP label, side 1
photo by Styrous®
vinyl LP label, side 2
photo by Styrous®
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1 – Four Hearsemen - When You're A Long Long Way From Home
A2 – Rascals* - Little Pal
A3 – Gala-Lads* - My Ideal
A4 – Sun Tones* - A Little Street Where Old Friends Meet
A5 – Easternaires - I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
A6 – Play Tonics* - Did Your Mother Come From Ireland
Side 1:
B1 – Sidewinders (5) - For Me And My Gal
B2 – Lads Of Enchantment - Love Me And The World Is Mine
B3 – Play Tonics* - Cabin On The Hilltop
B4 – Four Pitchikers* - That Old Gang Of Mine
B5 – Easternaires - Danny Boy
B6 – Rhythm Counts - Down By The Old Mill Stream
Various – Golden Barbershop Ballads
Label: MCA Records – MCA 235
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: US
Released:
Genre: Pop
Style: Barbershop
Viewfinder links:
I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen lyrics
The Chordettes
Net links:
A Cappella Foundation ~ The Origins of Barbershop Harmony
Classical MPR ~ Barbershop quartets, the harmonies are sweeter than ever
CNN ~ Barbershop quartets deliver love notes on Valentine's Day
Mental Floss ~ Why Are They Called "Barbershop Quartets"?
National Day Calendar ~ National Barbershop Quartet Day – April 1
Singer.com ~ Female Barbershop Groups
Singer.com ~ Male Barbershop Groups
YouTube links:
The Chordettes ~
A Little Street Where Old Friends Meet
Love Me And The World Is Mine
Mr. Sandman
Easternaires ~ I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
Julia Fischer ~
Felix Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Flat Minor Opus 64
Four Rascals ~ Little Pal Gala-Lads ~ My Ideal
Andante
Main Street ~ Down by the Old Mill Stream
Suntones ~ Danny Boy
Andante
Main Street ~ Down by the Old Mill Stream
Suntones ~ Danny Boy
Sing on, Boys!
Styrous® ~ Saturday, April 11, 2020
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