UNDERSTANDING OUR IMPACT - Knowing who we affect (and how) will help us change more lives through singing - AWS
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BRINGING BARBERSHOP HARMONY TO LIFE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
UNDERSTANDING OUR IMPACT
Knowing who we affect (and how) will help us change more lives through singing
PAGE 12
ENJOY BARBERSHOP MORE SPOTLIGHT TIP SHEET
HOW TO BETTER APPRECIATE INTRODUCING BHS PRESIDENT BARBERSHOP SHEET MUSIC
TYPICAL PERFORMANCES DICK POWELL AND OUR “LITTLE WHITE LIES”
2019
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barbershop.org | January/February 2019 | The Harmonizer | 1
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 • VOLUME LXXIX • NUMBER 1
We love top level groups—let’s give typical groups more love.
In Every Issue
4 Starting Pitch + Feedback
What you are telling us about Everyone in
Harmony; feedback on Barbershop History
8 Noteworthy
A new look for The Harmonizer
Welcoming new citizens with song
32 Chapter Eternal
Includes a recent district president, pitch pipe king
34 Member Services Directory
24 Where to get answers from Harmony Hall
36 The Tag
Features Departments Earl Moon was one of the best ... at just about
everything. “Pal O’ Mine” piles it on.
16 Each performer’s true impact 12 Tip Sheet
Carolyn Brandenburg speaks on behalf of all the We have to tell little white lies to help the
audience members you impacted but never knew. musically literate navigate the quirks of
barbershop sheet music. Here are some
20 Increasing our impact tips for both the new-to-barbershop and for
To make a bigger impact in our world, an barbershoppers who are new-to-mixed-harmony.
important step is to better define “impact.”
14 Spotlight
24 Enjoying barbershop more We’ll feature a new person or group every issue.
How we can turn off our critical filters and better This issue: 2019 Society President Dick Powell.
enjoy typical groups as much as the contenders.
29
THE NEWFANGLED FOUR, PHOTO BY LORIN MAY
On the cover: Double Date quartet at Give Kids the World Village in Orlando Photo by Lorin May 2018 District Champions
Connect with us YouTube: BarbershopHarmony38 Twitter: @barbershopnews
barbershop.org Facebook: barbershopharmonysociety Instagram: @barbershopharmonysociety
2 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2019 | barbershop.org
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE/EDITORIAL
harmonizer@barbershop.org
EDITOR
Lorin May
OUR VISION
Everyone in Harmony
OUR MISSION
To bring people together in harmony and fellowship to
enrich lives through singing.
OUR PURPOSES
To perpetuate the old American institution:
the barbershop quartet and barbershop harmony
To promote appreciation of barbershop harmony
To initiate and maintain a broad program
of musical education, contests, and appreciation in
support of barbershop harmony and the
allied arts
To establish and maintain foundations that support
our vision
To initiate, promote and participate in charitable
projects that support our vision
The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement
of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc.
(DBA Barbershop Harmony Society) is a non-profit
organization operating in the United States and Canada.
January/February 2019
Volume LXXIV Number 1
Complete contact info: pages 34-35
The Harmonizer (ISSN 0017-7849) (USPS 577700) is published bimonthly by the
Barbershop Harmony Society, 110 7th Ave N, Nashville TN 37203-3704.Periodicals
Postage Paid at Nashville TN and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to The Harmonizer, 110 7th Ave N, Nashville TN 37203-3704.
Advertising rates available upon request at harmonizer@barbershop.org.
Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts or artwork.
Postmaster: send address changes to editorial offices of The Harmonizer, 110
7th Ave N, Nashville TN 37203-3704 at least 30 days before the next publication date.
(Publications Agreement No. 40886012. Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to:
Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor ON N9A 6J5. Email: cpcreturns@wdsmail.com)
A portion of each member’s dues is allocated to cover the magazine’s subscription
price. Subscription price to non-members is $25 yearly or $5 per issue; foreign
subscriptions are $35 yearly or $7 per issue (U.S. funds only).
© 2019 The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet
Singing in America, Inc. dba The Barbershop Harmony Society.
Printed in the USA
barbershop.org | January/February 2019 | The Harmonizer | 3
STARTING PITCH
A conversation with our President and CEO
What you are telling
us about Everyone
In Harmony
Eavesdropping at the afterglow with BHS
President Dick Powell and CEO Marty Monson
L eading the Society is a combina-
tion of listening, planning, and
just plain talking with one another.
When CEO Marty Monson and
Dick
President Dick Powell get on the
phone, their conversations stray
across the entire map of the barber- Marty
shop world, from the “big picture”
issues, to their favorite moments.
Rather than side-by-side president
and CEO columns, “Starting Pitch”
will be an issue-to-issue conversation
between Marty and Dick. Pull up a MARTY: We’ve been hearing “don’t don’t have to be afraid of them.
chair and listen in. take my barbershop away from me.” I know one chapter that’s had
I know that the devil is in the execu- women on the risers for several years.
MARTY: You and I go to a lot of district tion—not in the details—but we can Now they have an opportunity to be
conventions and schools, so we hear live up to that slogan. legitimate instead of hiding in the
a lot. What’s it been like for you when shadows. That’s a good thing for them.
you’ve met people these past few DICK: When I hear, “Are you forcing
months? us to have women in our chapter?” I MARTY: Just to clarify facts, current
say, “No, we’re inviting you to have feedback from Chapter Advocates
DICK: A mix of reactions. There’s a thorough conversation about your show that 75% of chapters will con-
some fear driven by lack of clarity future. What would you like to be? tinue to have a men-only experience,
and uncertainty on the part of our What does that imply about the and some of those will also add a
wider membership—despite all of changes you might make?” If those mixed chorus or a women’s chorus.
our efforts to communicate in every changes are things that you choose One chapter had 20 or 30 people
way possible. to do, nobody’s forcing you and you show up for a mixed harmony night.
When they told their guests, “Our
roots come from men singing barber-
shop together,” a guest replied, “You
Get in Touch mean there’s been a men’s barber-
Dick Powell, Society President leadsingerdpowell@gmail.com shop chorus in this community?”
The most radical aspect of our
Marty Monson, CEO/Executive Director CEO@barbershop.org launch might be that not only are
we becoming inclusive, but also
4 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2019 | barbershop.org
radically supportive of the sin- “IN AN ERA OF GENDER
gle-gender singing experience. In
a time and era where everything is ROLE QUESTIONS, WE ARE
being brought together into one pool, REASSERTING THE BENEFITS
we are reasserting the benefits of
all men singing together, all women
OF MEN SINGING TOGETHER,
singing together, and men and WOMEN SINGING TOGETHER, What we’re
women singing together. All those
variations together!
AND MEN AND WOMEN reading, doing
and listening to.
This reach of Everyone in Harmony SINGING TOGETHER. ALL
will bring a whole new spectrum of THOSE VARIATIONS!” Chapter installations
new singers and fans within our orbit. Dick officiated at Harmony
It has to be done through the lens of Heritage Singers, Heart of
abundance, that there are a lot of peo-
Maryland, and Hunterdon
ple out there that are not singing, and
we believe that barbershop is a great not left in a lurch. We want our chap- Harmonizers
vehicle to get more people singing ters to be successful. We want you
together. to be able to visible and sought out A Christmas Carol
in your community. We want you to For Dick, three holiday
DICK: I met a member who said, “I thrive. Be willing to raise your hand performances for
used to hate you guys. I thought you and ask for help.
Chesapeake Shakespeare
were trying to throw away everything
I love about barbershop. But I’ve DICK: We would love for every chapter
come to understand everyone else to periodically pause and say, “Where ACDA Convention
should get to enjoy barbershop the have we been? Where do we want to Marty is looking forward
way they want as long as I can enjoy go? What forces are at work in our to a busy week building
it the way I want. And you’ve allowed community and in the world at large relationships Feb 27-Mar 1
me to do that.” And then we sang and that either impede certain options or
rang some tags together. enable others?”
Marty is reading
MARTY: You’re not required to make MARTY: Yes, we ask every chapter to “Culture Code: The Secrets
a decision on day one. We also have define its own mission. But some mem- of Highly Successful
resources available to help you bers dismiss the very idea of a chapter Groups,” by Daniel Coyle
through any transition so that you’re mission because they don’t understand
the benefit or think “That’s a waste of
50th Anniversary
time, I just want to sing.”
Dick and Roxanne Powell,
DICK: We have a structure that seems with kids and grandkids in
to encourage people to think, “I’m in Gatlinburg, TN
my chapter, we do what we do, we’re
not part of anything larger. And what O’Korch Night
we do doesn’t have any impact on
Dick’s annual chapter
anybody other than ourselves.” We
got to where we are today by listening event, where he will sing
to our members and others who are with an Irish quartet
Above: BHS chapter Stockton Portsmen, 2018 MBHA interested in barbershop. We then
Champ. District presidents know of at least 40 BHS created a vision that makes room for “Yes, Indeed”
chapters that had women on the risers prior to the additional desires without subtract- Arr. Earl Moon–one of
WWW.STOCKTONPORTSMEN.ORG
ing what we already love. We invite
June 2018 opening of membership to all. At least 75% Marty’s learning tracks
of BHS chapters plan to maintain a male-only chorus, our chapters and our districts to join
including those that may explore additional options. us in the journey to that future. When
we do, we are not telling anyone what
barbershop.org | January/February 2019 | The Harmonizer | 5
STARTING PITCH
A conversation with our President and CEO
“IT’S NOT MARTY’S VISION.
IT’S NOT DICK’S VISION. IT’S
EVERYBODY’S VISION. WE Reader Feedback
ASK ALL TO ENRICH THIS Let us know what’s on your mind: Harmonizer@barbershop.org
VISION WITH THEIR OWN Barbershop history spread was great work
IDEAS AND THEIR OWN LIFE That is an amazing piece of work. Congratulations on
EXPERIENCES.” an informative piece that appropriately and accurately
summarizes decades of history.
David Wright
St. Louis, Mo.
to do, we are encouraging all to help
lead in realizing the full potential for
each chapter, district, and individual. I devoured the issue quite quickly and your main piece
It’s not Marty’s vision. It’s not was awesome. Or to quote Dan Henry Bowser, “Your usual
Dick’s vision. It’s everybody’s vision. lackluster performance!” You are so great at your job.
We ask all to enrich this vision with
David Krause
their own ideas and their own life
experiences. Take ownership of this Kansas City, Mo.
vision and breathe life into it.
“Tom the Tattler” from 1900 was credited as the earliest published mention of the term
MARTY: No one should use Everyone “barber shop quartet” (or quartette). The recent digitization of older newspapers has
in Harmony as a scapegoat. The revealed several earlier instances, including one from 1892.
vision does not ignore our Society Via Newspaper Archive: “Foreman’s barber shop quartette is getting to the front very rapidly.
challenges, district challenges, or On Tuesday and Friday evenings they will entertain those who can stand it to listen” (Decatur
chapter challenges. Everyone in [IN] Democrat, April 8, 1892). Via newspapers.com: “The barber shop quartette entertained
Harmony is an opportunity for us to friends at the home of Jonas Allen yesterday afternoon and sang several selections in a pleasing
reflect on all of those things, so that manner” (Scranton [PA] Republican, May 16, 1893). A lengthy article on “Barber Shop Chords”
we can sustain ourselves and grow
was originally in the Kansas City Star and republished in the Arizona Republic, May 15, 1899.
once again, because of the energies
and passions that we have for this Justin Watkins
wonderful style of music and art Board Secretary, Ambassadors of Harmony
form.
Wow! What an amazing surprise to see an article about our championship! Also, a
DICK: You are 100% right. One of shout to Mary’s stepdad, Grant Hunget, who is also a long-time member of the BHS,
the hidden benefits of Everyone in
singing with medalist chorus Central Standard and CSD champion mixed quartet, Date Night,
Harmony is that to achieve that vision,
with our Queen Mom! We love you Grant! #onebigbarbershopfamily
we have to address these weaknesses
that have languished far too long. ClassRing quartet
2019 Sweet Adelines Queens of Harmony
MARTY: We’re all playing in the same
sandbox. We’re not in seven hundred
or a thousand different sandboxes.
We’re all in this together. We need to
grow what we do together. We need
to work together. We need to get more 110 7th Ave N. Harmonizer@ Barbershop.org Facebook.com/
people singing together and realize Nashville, TN, 37203 barbershop.org barbershopharmonysociety
everyone means everyone. n
6 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2019 | barbershop.org
NOTEWORTHY
The latest in the world of Barbershop.
FRESH LOOK, FRESH FEATURES
A new look for
The Harmonizer
Keeping what you love and adding some great new options—it’s a theme for
the Society and also for the newly redesigned Society magazine Somerset Hills, NJ Chapter
W ith chapters now having the
option to welcome everyone
as members and with anyone having
Help us feature your group
The May/June 2019 issue of The Harmonizer
the option to form BHS chapters and will feature groups that have explored the
quartets, January 2019 is a milestone variety of available options: men’s, wom-
for the Barbershop Harmony Society. Our new look is equally rooted in the past and en’s, and mixed ensembles. If you would
This seemed like a great moment to in the future—one that, like BHS culture, is like your group to be featured, contact
inaugurate a fresh, clean new look serious about changing lives through barbershop harmonizer@barbershop.org.
for The Harmonizer as well! harmony, but which never loses sight that what
There’s been a lot of evolution since we do is seriously fun!
the prior layout debuted in 1999, but
two decades since a full redesign is
the graphic equivalent singing the
same contest ballad for 12 years. chapter, or quartet every issue.
The new look comes thanks to a lot This issue: our new BHS President
of work with the magazine experts Dick Powell. Send us your sugges-
at MSP Communications, based in tions for future Spotlights.
Minneapolis. The updates are more • BHS Yearbook: This separate publi-
than skin deep. Here are some of the cation will accompany the Nov/Dec
more obvious editorial changes: 2019 issue of The Harmonizer. While
• Starting Pitch. The President and convention recaps will continue in
CEO columns are no longer sepa- the regular magazine, most com-
rate. Staff and volunteer leadership petitor photos will now be grouped
has always been a team sport—it’s together in one convenient annual
time to reflect that. package. Each Yearbook will feature The Polar Express,
• Noteworthy. News about the photos and info on every compet- but in Kansas City
accomplishments of our groups itor in that year’s International Kansas City’s historic Union Station set a gor-
and members is now featured Quartet Contest, International geous stage for the annual Holidays Come Alive
up front, where it belongs. This Chorus Contest, Seniors Quartet event, featuring a full 60-minute concert from
“Noteworthy” news will be mixed and Chorus Contests, Varsity and Harmonium. “People were packed from wall
in with the timely BHS news Junior Quartet and Chorus contests, to wall, standing and lifting their cell phones
previously found in the “Tempo” District Quartet Champions, and high in the air to capture our performance. The
section. any contests that may be added in highlight was when we broke into “Silent Night”
• Spotlight: A different member, the future. and asked them to join in and heard everyone
singing with us in that setting. Truly a magical
holiday moment of Everyone in Harmony!”
READ ONLINE Read the most recent issues of The Harmonizer at www.barbershop.org/ www.facebook.com/HarmoniumQuartet
harmonizer. Members can read nearly 80 years of back issues at barbershop.org/docs.
8 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2019 | barbershop.orgYOU CAN DO THIS, TOO!
Welcoming new
citizens with a song
America’s newest citizens are greeted with its homegrown music in Bing- GREAT OUTREACH IN LOL
hampton, New York, where the Southerntiersmen Chorus have sung at Youth programs in the Land O’ Lakes
naturalization ceremonies for the past three years. The National Anthem and district offer a full stack for educators
“God Bless America” bookend the proceedings, with occasional additional and students: free sheet music, Harmony
tunes depending on the judge’s schedule. The chorus has been cited with spe- University scholarships, support for
cial recognition from the city and the State Assembly for its service. a youth chorus heading to the Next
www.facebook.com/Southerntiersmen Generation Barbershop events. Its
signature event invites all groups that
enter WSMA State Solo & Ensemble
contests to compete in the Wisconsin
Youth Harmony Festival, with prizes and
coaching from memorable clinicians.
Team leaders Rich Kirwin and Jack Rybak
were joined at the recent state convention
by past state champs Vintage Mix Quartet.
80 YEARS AGO ON THE POP CHARTS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY
WHAT’S YOUR NEXT SONG?
Looking for great song ideas? Need the flavor
of a particular year in history? Find vintage
recordings of the songs of the past hundred
years at playback.fm/charts, complete with
audio and video links. Hours of inspiration
and great listening!
Short caption if needed
MUSIC MEDICS: CHAPTER OR INTERCHAPTER SERVICE
Music Medics is all about sending quartets to sing exclusively at children’s hospitals in your
local area as an ongoing, permanent project within your local community. Nothing builds
camaraderie and encourages quartet singing among your singing community better than shar-
ing this incredibly fulfilling experience with other Music Medics audiences and participants.
#wesingweserve
DOWNLOAD Get the Music Medics Guidebook:
https://shop.barbershop.org/music-medics-guidebook-download
barbershop.org | January/February 2019 | The Harmonizer | 9NOTEWORTHY
The latest in the world of Barbershop.
HARMONY FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
Your singing means
more than you know
Eight pennies, and all the joy in the world for this Colorado quartet
V elcro quartet out of the
Colorado Springs America
the Beautiful Chorus decided to
Congrats to Aged to Perfection
Big kudos to the 2018 Harmony, Inc.
go Christmas caroling this past International Quartet champion: Ellie
December. They secured the neces- Pomer (Br), Kathy Pomer (Bs), Gaye
sary permits to sing in the city plaza LaCasce (T) and Alexa Beal (L). Tip to
area for about four hours. Up and quartets: it certainly didn’t hurt that
down they went, singing every carol this quartet received top-level coaching
they knew, getting all the typical in the Quartet College at Harmony
accolades. University three years straight!
Then came along an elderly wom-
an. She walked up and handed them
After singing together for years, Colorado’s Velcro Follow along with new members
$5. They refused. She insisted. They
quartet learned from a homeless man what their During their first year, new members
refused again. She told them there
singing does for audiences. receive an email with a bit of BHS
was no way they were going to refuse
background: how to have more fun
her gift after they had brightened
singing, where to learn more about the
her day so much. So, eventually, they
style, upcoming events, and expanding
caved in and accepted her generosity.
their barbershop world. You might learn
Then came a man who appeared man they couldn’t take his money.
something, too! Explore the basics of
homeless. He refused to take it back. They tried
four-part harmony, its roots in African
They were mid-song when this again; he refused again.
American communities in the 1800s,
man approached and held out a hor- “You don’t understand,” he said.
and evolution through the years. www.
izontal clenched fist toward them. “I’m out here, and things are tough. barbershop.org/intro-to-barbershop-
Continuing to sing, a couple of the Really tough. Then you guys come
what-is-barbershop
guys gave him a fist-bump. “No, man! along and just fill my day with joy.
Hold out your palm underneath!” he Merry Christmas. It’s the least I can
said, demonstrating an outstretched, do.”
upward palm with his other hand. When, really ... it was probably the
The quartet bass, Gary N. Hicken- most he could do.
looper, played along and put his open That man didn’t care about how
palm beneath the man’s clenched many 7th chords the quartet sang, or
fist. whether they were in tune, or their
The man opened his hand and contest placement. He only cared
dropped eight cents onto the bass’s that they transformed his life so
hand. Eight individual pennies. much that day, he gave them every-
The quartet halted and told the thing he had—8 pennies.
Think that life was enriched by SPOTTED: Quad Squad quartet from the
singing? San Diego Sun Harbor Chorus was
featured in a full-page ad in the in-flight
- Jim Johnson, magazine for Southwest Airlines!
jjohnson@harmonyfoundation.org
10 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2019 | barbershop.orgWhat’s Happening
Singing Valentines Day Harmony, Inc. milestone Midwinter 2020
February 14 February 26 January 7-12
Get more gigs with Gig Salad! Congratulate our Harmony, Inc. Jacksonville, Fla.
• www.gigsalad.com friends on 60 years of harmony! Both Junior and Seniors quartets
• www.harmonyinc.org and choruses compete, plus even
more of the year’s best shows!
ACDA National Conference • www.barbershop.org/events
February 27-March 2
Kansas City
Educators keep falling in love Harmony University
with barbershop! BHS stars and July 21-28
staff enjoy a big presence all Belmont U, Nashville
Early Bird ends Feb. 15! week, with Westminster Chorus Spend a life-changing week 2020 International
June 30-July 7 and Central Standard earning learning from barbershop’s best June 28-July 5
Salt Lake City prestigious performance slots coaches and instructors Los Angeles
Rates are about to go up–get • www.acda.org • www.barbershop.org/hu
your registrations and reserve
your hotel! A great destination 2021 Cleveland
city, and contests and shows in 2022 Charlotte
the amazing Conference Center
2023 Louisville
• www.barbershop.org/slc
12.1M
$50,000 TO FIGHT BIRTH DEFECTS
With guest, Sound of Tennessee Chorus
YOUTUBE VIEWS IN 2018
Think no one has heard of bar-
bershop? Think again. With more
than 12 million views last year, our
YouTube channel is the universal
tool for instantly showcasing the fun
and musical excellence of our style.
Comedy dominates the top of the
charts, which is just fine with us,
when it means great singing from
Main Street and The Newfangled
Four.
PARDON ME, BOYS, BUT WHERE DID YOU GET THE TRAIN?
CHATTANOOGA CHOO-CHOO CHORUS: STEVE WIXSON
WATCH ONLINE Yep, this time, it really WAS the Chattanooga Choo Choo—both the Choo
Subscribe to the Society’s YouTube Choo Chorus, and the eponymous piece of stage decoration. Proceeds from
channel and you’ll never miss annual holiday shows have benefited the Boehm Birth Defects Center, topping
anything. www.youtube.com/ $50,000 through the years. In thanks, the hospital donated the large signage,
barbershopharmony1938 which had marked the construction site of a new Children’s wing.
www.choochoochorus.org n
barbershop.org | January/February 2019 | The Harmonizer | 11TIP SHEET
Donny Rose, Director of Music Education
drose@barbershop.org
The challenges of
barbershop sheet music
Commonly-used notation for barbershop music can confuse experienced musicians,
and experienced Barbershoppers can find mixed barbershop harmony perplexing. Let’s address both.
S ingle-gender and mixed bar-
bershop present a “Yes, and …”
option. We are committed to
keeping single-gender barbershop
vibrant (YES) and we also invite
folks to try mixed harmony as an
option (AND). To ensure that new
and future singers understand all
the terminology, let’s more clearly
define what we mean by “mixed
harmony.” The definition may seem
obvious to some, but it’s a little
tricky once we introduce our sheet Purchasing music at shop.barbershop.org is easy.
music to people who have never choral world does not know what is But when it comes to reading our sheet music,
seen the barbershop style in print. meant by TLBB. there are some things we do differently that can
be confusing to some.
DEFINING MIXED HARMONY BARBERSHOP SHEET MUSIC ISSUES
If more than one gender is repre- If you introduce our sheet music to
sented, no matter the combina- someone who is not from the music
tion, it is a mixed harmony group. world, they will accept our music The prior labels work as a generic
Eighty men can form a men’s traditions as the norm. The bad news: starting place to get different voice
choir—80 male singers and one an experienced music reader may be combinations together. However,
female singer are a mixed choir. confused by many of our barbershop once these new-to-barbershop peo-
notation traditions. We are not typical! ple look at the actual printed sheet
DEFINING VOICE PARTS We don’t use many tempo, style, or dy- music, they encounter differences
To review, tenor is the highest namic markings, we force note stems from the rest of the choral world.
voice part, harmonizing above the up or down, and we even add new
melody; lead is the second voice, material to the end of the song—yep, a TTBB MUSIC IS “DISGUISED”
primarily singing the melody; tag is weird to non-Barbershoppers! Traditional men’s music is typically
baritone is the third-highest voice To help our new-to-barbershop (not always) presented only with bass
part, completing the chord by musicians, we tell a little white lie on
moving above and below the mel- our sheet music covers and use four
ody; and bass is the lowest notes, familiar letters inaccurately:
providing foundational harmony • TTBB: Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Baritone,
for the rest. Barbershop music for Bass. (Translation: music for men)
men, women, and mixed harmo- • SATB: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass. SHOP FOR ARRANGEMENTS
ny is always TLBB—tenor, lead, (Translation: music for women and We have thousands of titles in our sheet
baritone, bass. Unlike most choral men) music library for barbershop groups of any
music, gender has no implication • SSAA: Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Alto mix. Check them out at shop.barbershop.org
on the voice part people can sing 1, Alto 2. (Translation: music for
in barbershop. The trick? The women)
12 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2019 | barbershop.orgTO HELP OUR NEW- SATB music, the soprano is on the
melody, but our music has that top
TO-BARBERSHOP part harmonizing above the melody
MUSICIANS, WE TELL A (the part we call tenor). The melody is
now on the alto line (the part we call SEE EXAMPLES ONLINE
LITTLE WHITE LIE ON OUR lead). The listed tenor part is in the bass Compare the charts: See various ways of
SHEET MUSIC COVERS clef (the part we call baritone). This is notating the same music on our web site.
barbershop.org/harmonizer.
AND USE FOUR FAMILIAR confusing to new-to-our-style singers
looking for mixed harmony barbershop,
LETTERS INACCURATELY because it appears that the only options
in print are two women on the top voice
parts and two men on the bottom voice women will sing tenor—but not
parts—and that is not the case! We print always! Our music is arranged in
our SATB music primarily so music close harmony, meaning the notes
clefs. Barbershop sheet music has educators will know this is barbershop are closer to each other than tra-
the bass clef and the vocal tenor clef for their young men and women. ditional choral arrangements. This
(that little 8 means sing an octave compressed range makes finding
down). This type of treble clef is less SSAA TRIPS UP EXPERIENCED MUSICIANS similar voice ranges critical. A true
common outside of barbershop ar- Like the men’s charts with the little soprano 1 or very low bass will need
rangements. People new to our style 8 below the treble clef, women’s bar- to find similar voices to have success
might confuse it for SATB. In bershop has the same little 8 above in close harmony. A really low bass
addition, because TTBB charts the bass clef. Women from outside of would generally do better with other
in the choral world are intend- the barbershop world rarely (ever?) men who also have lower voices,
ed only for men, new-to-bar- sing in the bass clef, and we con- just as a really high soprano would
bershop folks and music teachers stantly have people who purchase harmonize more easily with other
would not be aware that women can our SSAA music send us a note or higher voiced women.
typically sing the top 1, 2 or even 3 return the music because they If you are ready to give mixed bar-
parts of our music. Our TTBB charts mistakenly think this is men’s bershop a try, start with a familiar
(sometimes pitched up, with a few music. Women from barber- TTBB polecat and see how the range
alterations) are what most mixed shop understand because this bass lays for the higher voices. The tenor
harmony barbershop groups perform clef tradition avoids a bunch of led- on “My Wild Irish Rose” lays be-
all over the world today. ger lines and it makes visual sense to tween C# and F … that’s only a third
them … but folks new to barbershop (very narrow). The lead is pretty
SATB IS TRICKY have no context, and simply will not rangy (an octave) while the baritone
True sopranos often have trouble with use something that looks this weird. is only a fourth (also very narrow)
mixed harmony barbershop range between F-Bb (with one note excep-
because it’s too low, and true basses ANY GENDER CAN SING ANY PART tion). These notes will work for most
can’t sing mixed or men’s barbershop In a mixed harmony setting, it is women in the written key, but might
because it’s too high. In almost all likely that men will sing bass and lay a little better up a whole step. The
bass and lead are still very much in
the guys range, and women on tenor
and alto women on bari can sing this
Search options make it
low.
easier for anyone to find
If you have never tried mixed bar-
what they’re looking for.
bershop, sing a tag at an afterglow or
But even experienced
show. Women love having naturally
Barbershoppers may not
lower and resonant voices in the bass
realize that most of our
clef, and men love having naturally
thousands of arrangments
higher and resonant voices in the
are already ideal for mixed
treble clef. Everyone wins, and all
harmony.
people are singing in their natural,
freely produced range! n
barbershop.org | January/February 2019 | The Harmonizer | 13SPOTLIGHT
John Donehower, BHS Board Member
johndonehower@charter.net
Far left: Dick (second from left) delivers a Singing
Valentine with a quartet from his Patapsco Valley,
Md., Chapter. Left: With some of his extended
family (center, back), including seven children.
shop makes a positive difference in
their communities. Making these
personal connections and discovering
how much Barbershoppers every-
where have in common gives me hope
Introducing 2019 BHS for the future, not only for barbershop
but for the larger world.
President Dick Powell Tell us about your leadership journey
from chapter to district to society.
He joined not so he could lead but simply to learn how to sing. But his Where are the bodies buried?
There are none, I hope! I joined to
duty to be a “servant leader” has him helping chart the Society’s future
learn how to sing and perform, not
to rise in the ranks of leadership. But
when I was asked to do a job in my
I met Dick Powell, our new BHS
Society President, in 2014 when I
was a candidate for the Society Board.
Music Man on Broadway, where I
saw the Buffalo Bills perform. I was
13 and didn’t understand what bar-
chapter, in my district, and then at the
Society level, I felt it my duty as a ser-
vant leader to accept. I never dreamed
It was a bit intimidating. Dick had a bershop was, but I sure did like the I would be in this position.
huge barbershop leadership resume sound. In 1977, barbershop became
while mine was … limited. Dick was a big part of our lives when my wife, How important to the future success of
professional, thoughtful, and disci- Roxanne, started singing with the BHS is leadership development?
plined. I was enthusiastic, sometimes Sweet Adelines in San Antonio, then It’s critical. In 1995, Society President
opinionated, and often flew by the Annapolis. Between my travel as an Dick Shaw asked me to serve on the
seat of my pants. I wasn’t sure that an Air Force officer and watching five Society’s first Leadership Task Force.
over-achiever such as he would give small children so Roxanne could He correctly believed that men would
me a second look. But I was wrong. sing, there was never an opportunity only join chapters that were well led,
He took a great interest in helping for me to try. Finally, in February and that our leadership education
me develop as a leader and even went 1980, Roxanne got David Updegraff needed to be as effective as our music
so far as assigning me reading and and two other men to take me to the education. The Chapter Support and
homework. When I asked him, “Why Sons of the Severn, directed by Bob Leadership Training (CSLT) program
me?” he told me, with a slight smile, Disney. The music hooked me, and
“Because you.” the warmth and fellowship of the
And that is Dick Powell. He looks chapter kept me coming back.
for potential. He looks at possibilities. “STRATEGY AND
Dick has a fondness for big words and
bigger thoughts and would never shy
What was the first barbershop song you
learned?
IMPLEMENTATION
away from a tough question … or a “Moving Picture Ball”—at my first PROGRAMS ALREADY RUN
silly one … afterglow, and I can still sing it today! OUT TO 2038. WHEN WE
Spider-Man got bit by a radioactive What aspect of the barbershop experi- SUCCEED, THE RESULT WILL
spider, Superman came to earth as an ence brings you the most joy? BE A THRIVING SOCIETY
extraterrestrial refugee. What is your
Barbershop origin story?
Visiting and singing with Barber-
shoppers and their families around
BRINGING HARMONY TO
In 1958, my folks took me to see The the world and learning how barber- MILLIONS.”
14 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2019 | barbershop.organd Chapter Officer Training Schools ciety bringing harmony to millions.
attempted to address this need, but
may not have been ideal for adult What does the BHS Board of Directors of
learners. Fortunately, we have many the future look like?
more technology options these days. The next generation Board will likely ABOUT DICK POWELL
One size doesn’t fit all, because men be larger, more diverse, younger, Married to Roxanne Powell nearly 50
and women are seeking more diverse and feature some very bright and years; they sing together in a mixed
ways to interact with and consume multi-talented men and women. voice community choir and a mixed
barbershop. Their charge will be to ensure that voice barbershop chorus
we remain on course and deliver on
Why Everyone in Harmony? the promise of our vision. Seven children, six grandchildren,
In three words, it summarizes what one great granddaughter
the BHS stands for and what we Your wife is a leader in both Harmony,
strive to achieve in the larger society. Inc. and the Mixed Barbershop Harmony Sings with the Patapsco Valley, Md.,
When we bring people together to Association. How do you manage the Chapter
sing, especially to sing barbershop, stresses of being a barbershop power
we create a bond of fellowship, couple? Board member of the
friendship, and harmony that man- Neither Roxanne nor I would agree Linwood Center, which
ifests itself in tolerance and under- that we’re a “power couple,” but we serves autistic children
standing. Even when we disagree, are busy! We have enough to talk and adults
we can do so without being disagree- about that we rarely discuss our vari-
able. I believe we all need this expe- ous leadership challenges. Roxanne is the President of the
rience in our lives, our families, our Mixed Barbershop Harmony Associ-
communities, our countries, and the Which was better preparation for your ation (MBHA), sings with Bella Nova
world. The strategy and programs new role as Society President: your years Chorus of Harmony, Inc. (HI), is the HI
planned for the implementation of as an Air Force Officer at the Pentagon, Key-Note Editor, and directs Full Circle,
Everyone in Harmony already run or being the father of seven? a mixed voice barbershop chorus
out to 2038. There is a lot to do and Fatherhood! The Air Force taught
there will certainly be adjustments me a lot about strategic and pro- BARBERSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
as we move ahead. When we suc- gram planning, acquisition, human • Sang in 3 registered quartets and 2
ceed, the result will be a thriving So- resources, project management, etc. chapter choruses
But because of my children I am • Multi-year president, secretary,
better at listening, conflict resolu- and board member in two chap-
tion, and at contingency planning ters
Dick and the author serve on the Strategic Planning and disaster recovery techniques. • Chairman Society Leadership Task
Committee. In the below 2017 SPC meeting are Because of them I have a useful Force, CSLT Committee, and COTS
Skipp Kropp (Immediate Past President), Dick sense of humor, and I never worry Subcommittee
Powell, Marty Monson, Steve Denino (Board about losing control because I never • Certified Chapter President
Governance Advocate), John Donehower. assume I have it in the first place! n instructor
• Certified Contest Administrator
• Society Board Member-at-Large
• Society Executive VP
Mid-Atlantic District
• Area Counselor
• Division VP
• Secretary
• Advanced Technology Chair
• Executive VP
• President
barbershop.org | January/February 2019 | The Harmonizer | 15Understanding the
impact of your per
By Carolyn Brandenburg
carolynbburg@gmail.com
16 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2019 | barbershop.orge true
rformances
I was drowning—exhausted, isolated, and months beyond the end
of my rope as the 24/7 sole caregiver to my dying husband. Another
video or group might have had the same effect, but it was a then six-
year-old upload of the Ambassadors of Harmony’s “76 Trombones”
that first reached me during my darkest hours. Online barbershop
performances became my one respite from an exhausting trial.
Don’t ever assume that you are the only person who
gains a lasting benefit from the singing you do.
For me, the impact was greater than you can imagine.
I clicked the Facebook video shared by my
son, and for the next five minutes my heavy
burdens disappeared.
that Ambassadors of Harmony had been to me.
Jim asked if he could share my email with his
chorus and I agreed. At Nashville’s 2016 Inter-
The singing and tight harmony were amaz- national Convention near my home in Gallatin,
ing, and I could actually understand the words! Tennessee, I shared my story with the Ambassa-
I was fascinated. I watched it again and again dors in person. Now I share it with you.
trying to figure out how they did everything.
That was barbershop? YOU CANNOT KNOW THE BURDENS OF THOSE WHO
I thought barbershop was quartets who wore WATCH YOU PERFORM
strange hats and sang “Lida Rose”—not cho- I rarely share this much detail, even with my
ruses singing contemporary songs with such closest friends. But saying “I’ve been through
showmanship. a lot” doesn’t tell you how difficult, lonely, and
Listening to the Ambassadors of Harmony depressing it was.
and then countless other chorus and quartet The heaviness of my burdens built gradually.
performances helped me cope. I sent an email It started a few years ago, when I was trying
to Jim Henry and told him a little about my life to keep up with my newly expanded duties at
and expressed my gratitude for the blessing my 14-year-old hospital office job. I was barely
barbershop.org | January/February 2019 | The Harmonizer | 17afloat when I learned my 90-year- often and not telling me. He needed on, my isolation and loneliness deep- old mother was having severe back full-time care. I wasn’t sure I was ei- ened. As his sole caregiver, I was pain and needed full-time assistance. ther financially or emotionally ready, exhausted from months with high It was a long, difficult challenge to but I retired from my job—there was stress and little sleep. When I could wrap up her life in Florida and set no acceptable alternative. get on the computer, it was mostly to her up to get the care she needed research Parkinson’s so that I could near us in Tennessee. HARD TIMES BECOME UNBEARABLE help Dutch. It was in these bleak and Before this transition, I leaned my Over the next four years, I watched weary circumstances that I saw my job was being outsourced. After mom the man I loved have his life stolen first barbershop video. arrived, I was working in two de- from him. At first, only some days I don’t know what either I or partments and traveling 45 minutes were bad. Eventually, all were bad. Dutch would have done without this to the assisted living facility, and it Some days he could hold a decent lifeline. Every chance I got, I tried to was more than I could handle. We conversation and walk with a cane; watch barbershop chorus and quar- then learned that her back prob- other days he would argue with the tet videos. The beautiful music made lems were caused by bone cancer. wall and couldn’t walk without my by men singing with their hearts Six months later—two weeks after I constant lifting. He fell often, and lifted my spirits and helped me cope. started a new job—she passed away. I struggled to get him off the floor During the last few months of his The same week, both my HVAC sys- without injuring him or myself. He life, Dutch’s stomach pain was so tem and hot water heater broke. thrashed and hollered in his sleep, severe that he begged me to overdose The prolonged stress may have and was humiliated that he couldn’t his painkillers and let him die. That been a trigger for what became a button his shirt, tie his shoes or cut was one thing I could not do, but months-long struggle with acute up his food. I was desperate to ease his suffer- bronchitis. Yet, I didn’t dare take On good days he told me he loved ing. Listening to barbershop music time off from my new job. After my me; on bad days he was paranoid and soothed his soul, too, and was one of health declined for four months, my cursed at me—far out of character for only things that provided an escape. doctor insisted that I take time off to him. The once lively, happy man who recover. While at home recuperating, loved to tease had lost his person- PULLING OTHERS FROM THE “MIREY CLAY” I realized that my husband, “Dutch,” ality, his zest for life, his sense of I share these details only so you can and his years-long struggle with Par- humor, his dignity, his sense of self- imagine the weight that some people kinson’s disease, was doing far worse worth, and even his ability to smile. in your audiences feel—so that you than he’d told me. He was falling As the months and then years wore may realize how much joy your music Right: Carolyn and “Dutch” Brandenburg in 1990, long before a series of downturns would change their lives. Far right: Parkinson’s disease slowly took Dutch away from his happy and supportive personality, leaving him in extreme pain and Carolyn in a constant state of exhaustion. Their recent discovery of barbershop harmony–and a deep treasure trove of uplifting online performances–was one of the few things that could transport them away from their heavy burdens. 18 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2019 | barbershop.org
“I THANK YOU ON BEHALF
OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHOSE
SPIRITS ARE LIFTED BY YOUR
MUSIC, THOSE WHOM YOU
WILL NEVER MEET, IF YOU
EVEN KNOW THEY EXIST.”
brings and how much it helps people
having a rough time. There are so
many other people who need a few
minutes to forget their problems and
be joyful. People battling illnesses,
people going through a divorce or
Finally face to face. Author Carolyn Brandenburg with Ambassadors of Harmony co-director Jim Henry in
a death in their family, someone
Nashville, 2016. It is fitting that the performance that first swept Carolyn away came under the baton of the
dealing with a child’s severe illness
man who coined the phrase “gold medal moments.”
or addiction. Someone experiencing
employment challenges, financial
problems, people with PTSD, anxiety,
depression and loneliness. PUTTING A SONG INTO HEARTS ist. Most of all, I thank you for lifting
According to the University of Putting a song into hearts—that’s me up from the miry clay; that weight
Michigan’s Health and Retirement where you come in. When you meet that was holding me down is lifted
Study, 28 percent of people over 50 to rehearse and sing together, you when I hear your music. You put a
are affected by chronic loneliness. minister to each other—you support song in my heart that I can sing over
Any of those things can completely each other. When you perform, you and over and it helps me through the
overwhelm you and cause you to feel touch audience members, who can times when I feel so overwhelmed.
trapped, with no way out. forget about their problems. Some- I cannot express enough how
There is an old gospel song called times you can see the effect you have much you have blessed my life and
“He Brought Me Out” that we used on them. Every time someone listens the lives of countless others. Keep
to sing at camp meetings when I was to your music you touch their lives— spreading sunshine, harmony and
a teenager. One phrase kept going thousands all over the world who love. The world needs that now more
through my mind, “He brought me accidentally find you just like I did. than ever. You truly do touch peo-
out of the miry clay.” Miry clay is Music goes straight from the ears to ples’ lives through your music! n
sludge, mud, gunk—thick, almost speak to hearts and souls. I believe
like quicksand. It’s difficult to pull God works through you and your
yourself out from the physical and music. You don’t have to be in a med-
emotional pain because of the weight al-winning group to touch peoples’
that pulls you down. lives. You just have to sing with your
It took a while before I finally heart and sing in harmony—harmony
remembered two more phrases from of music and of spirit. WATCH ONLINE The Ambassadors of
the chorus. “He brought me out of I thank you on behalf of all of the Harmony’s 2009 Gold Medal-winning
the miry clay, He put my feet on the people whose spirits are lifted by lis- performance can be seen at
Rock to stay, He put a song in my tening to your music, those whom you https://youtu.be/QmDGntpZC3I
heart today.” will never meet if even know they ex-
barbershop.org | January/February 2019 | The Harmonizer | 19Increasing our impact
Feeling good about doing good is a good participants inspired to become the
barbershop director.
start. Bringing much more of that good to the
It’s the journey. It’s what the BHS
is good at. It’s what makes us unique
as a nonprofit beyond improving
entire world is our long-term opportunity. lives and lots of people participating
and loving what we do.
Escaping the narrowness of
measuring only breadth
W hen Erin Harris describes
her work as Senior Direc-
tor of Impact, she invariably has to
uals and their
singing com-
munities. It’s
For decades, our primary measures
of Society success were of breadth:
explain what we mean by “impact.” the thousands How many members? How many
She’s okay with that. of Barbershop- quartets? How well do we sing? Are
Impact is still kind of a new con- per stories that we recognized as a legitimate mu-
cept for BHS as an organization driv- sound like you sical form? Are audiences familiar
en by social good—whether you call could swap out with us? Are we financially sus-
that good enriching lives through another person’s tainable as a result of dues, events,
harmony, or Everyone In Harmony, Erin Harris name and that merchandise? How much have we
or simply making people happy. The would be the grown?
Barbershop Harmony Society looks only thing that changed about their For the most part, though, those
at impact using three dimensions. journey to barbershop and singing measurements have been taken
Breadth: how widely barbershop for the rest of their lives. It’s the mainly on men participating as BHS
is practiced, heard, absorbed. marriages formed and kids that have members actively singing in chorus-
Depth: how the experience of been raised. It’s the youth program es and quartets. We are now taking
barbershop music and culture deeply
improves communities and the lives
of individuals
Focus: how we do the above by
replicating, improving, and fine
tuning our ability to make it easy
and empower an individual to use
singing as a “tool” they can use for
the rest of their lives—we call this
creating lifelong singing journeys.
It’s the connective tissue that cre-
ates generations of Barbershoppers
and connections between individ-
Right: Members of Double Date quartet teach a tag to
a new fan at Give Kids the World Village in Orlando.
It was one of many outreach activities that took place
during last year’s International Convention.
20 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2019 | barbershop.orgon a broader understanding of People
Interested in Barbershop. Rather
COUNTING NOSES, DOLLARS, by Chief Strategy officer Kevin
Lynch in the Nov/Dec 2018 issue of
than counting only those who have AND AWARENESS IS EASY— The Harmonizer.
reached this highest level of commit-
ment to harmonizing, People Inter-
BUT HOW DO YOU MEASURE Harnessing the breadth of people
interested in barbershop and ways to
ested in Barbershop encompasses all THE VALUE OF A NURSING be involved (the first dimension), and
our audiences, YouTube watchers, HOME PATIENT’S SMILE? multiplying by the depth of personal
families and superfans. Even more
broadly, it can include all singing
WHAT DEVICE MEASURES and community impact (second di-
mension), brings us to our full three
communities—barbershop first, as GOOSEBUMPS PER MINUTE? dimensional impact on the world.
always, but also fellow travelers who Through the medium of barber-
are making a difference by singing shop harmony, we facilitate lifelong
together. singing journeys that make ongoing
Moving forward, we can expand changes to the quality of life.
our reach of services and interac- these moments, and help us repeat- Bringing this to full scale will
tions. There are more ways to be edly tell our story to the world as a come from expanding our infra-
“into barbershop” than singing in a whole, while reminding us of what structure to support that jour-
BHS weekly chapter meeting. Of- we ourselves value most highly in ney: technology, volunteer power,
fering those valuable interactions— our barbershop experience. knowledge. Our commitment to
music, education, distance learning, expand inclusion beyond our tradi-
connectedness to the barbershop Bringing it to scale: our ultimate tional boundaries of mostly white/
universe—all will swell the ranks of purposes mostly male/mostly current singers
people in the barbershop sphere. provides both additional fuel and
The broader implication—that additional impact—an opportunity
What matters the most can be changing one life at time leads to for exponential growth. n
difficult to measure better people, communities, and – Brian Lynch, PR/communication
world—was discussed at great depth blynch@barbershop.org
Counting noses, dollars, and aware-
ness is easy—they’re tangible,
quantifiable, can be compared year
over year. But how do you measure What gets measured gets improved. But how?
the value of a smile of a nursing
home patient? What’s the price of a Having identified the difficulty of measuring our impacts, Erin and her team neverthe-
night of quartet rehearsal completely less press onward.
consumed by laughter? What kind A Baseline Report delivered by consultant Mark McCormack in 2018 put some of
of device measures Goosebumps Per these in tangible form. By measuring our Harmony Hall programs in 2018, we can start
Minute when a youth chorus sings to see more than just “counting noses.” We can even see more than how well the event
for an audience of thousands of Bar- was operated; we can see where participants found real value in the experience. From
bershoppers? there, we can decide what programs or what aspects of programs have the most impact
These “gold medal moments”— and double down on those aspects ... while also eliminating the aspects that aren’t as
when the medium of barbershop valuable.
harmony becomes a means for This is about more than attending an event, this is about the “why” what we’re
human connections—happen to us doing is important. Whether we do what we do just because more people is more fun
all every day. They’re the fabric of (breadth), it changes lives (depth), or it facilitates a lifelong singing journey (focus), all
barbershop culture, and they are a of it is impact. All of it is important to think about so that we add value to the people
transforming social good. They are and singing communities we serve.
perhaps the most valuable thing we If you’re interested in asking questions that get to the heart of your programs’ impact,
do—and frustratingly, the hardest to we have a bank of questions you could ask people participating in your programs. Con-
measure objectively. Fortunately, an tact impact@barbershop.org for links to further materials in the BHS Document Center.
interconnected world gives voice to
barbershop.org | January/February 2019 | The Harmonizer | 21“THEY SOUND LIKE SHEEP”
ENJOYING
BARBERSHOP
and BEING the kind of audience
every barbershop performer needs
AUDIENCES SEEM TO ENJOY TYPICAL
BARBERSHOP PERFORMANCES MORE THAN
MANY BARBERSHOPPERS DO! PERHAPS WE
COULD ALL WORK ON (RE)LEARNING TO ENJOY
BARBERSHOP PERFORMANCES AT EVERY LEVEL
CAMBRIDGE SHEEP SOCIETY
DR. JACOB BARTLETT
24 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2019 | barbershop.orgA
video of an international after some personal reflection), “Very out of tune. Vehicle might be
medalist quartet had just I decided to test my hunch. I too much for the skills of the per-
played to a room filled started by surveying Barber- former. Difficult to watch the whole
with Barbershoppers, and one sing- shoppers on Facebook, asking for performance.”
er offered the sheep critique at the instant reactions to two quartets
top of this article. I was astonished. of different abilities. One would “Low 60s at best. “Cheesy” moves,
First, we Barbershoppers are a wel- likely score in the low 60s, a never really lock a
coming group! Was this a healthy middle-of-the-road level that chord. It appears Facebook survey
or even viable description for any most non-Barbershoppers would there was insuffi- respondents
performing group in our Society—at likely perceive as competent and cient rehearsal to *more than one answer possible
any level? at least somewhat entertaining. match/coordinate/
Second, what must this person The other quartet would likely blend.” Competitor: 77%
say about quartets that do not score score in the low 80s, approaching Non-competitor: 19%
in the 90s? International Semifinals level, or After they Judge/Clinician/Coach: 9%
Most Barbershoppers are far the beginnings of very high-level watched the General Audience: 7%
more encouraging than the sheep performance. videos, I asked
comment, and this article is less The goal was to elicit immedi- the participants BHS experience
about how we critique each other ate feedback, both positive and how they would 10+ years: 74%
and more about how we perceive negative, on the audience experi- explain the videos 5-9 years: 7%
each other. I’ve seen enough blunt ence. Overwhelmingly the results to non-Barbershop- 3-5 years: 9%
and often brutal critiques of solid were positive. As expected, how- pers. Encouraging- 0-3 years 9%
performances over the years to sus- ever, the lower scoring quartet re- ly, these responses
pect that many of us Barbershop- ceived many negative criticisms, were all well-intentioned, and
pers share a common affliction: We especially when comments were only one said that they would call
don’t seem to enjoy typical barber- written while respondents were one of them “not very good.”
shop performances nearly as much watching the video live.
as our audiences do! Many of the responses were en-
So many post-convention couraging, regardless of the quar- Our internal “flaw
conversations seem to evolve (or tet’s performance level. However, a
devolve?) into diatribes regarding few negative comments stood out:
detectors”
how “Quartet A” should not have We hear incredibly high caliber,
placed 3rd because of “Issue 1,” and “… just a run-of-the-mill quartet.” artistically nuanced performanc-
the next quartet should not even es from top barbershop groups.
be singing together because that “Choppy. Big guts.” Unlike most art forms, our idols
baritone has “Issues 47-53” and the
bass sings “too dark” for that bright “Meh. Nasal. Overpowering lead.”
lead with “Issues 61-65.” It seems
that many of us either cannot or “These quartets should not be
will not turn off our finely-tuned allowed to represent the Society at
critical eyes and ears and simply any level.”
enjoy the group before us.
“Their unit sound is well seasoned
but they annoy me.”
Do we reflexively focus “Not what I was expecting, kinda
on whatever needs meh, I wasn’t compelled by the Dr. Jacob (Jake) Bartlett is an Associate
ALYSON EDIE PHOTOGRAPHY
performance or the song.” Professor of Music and a Choir Director
improvement? at Peru State College (Nebraska). He has
After hearing about the barnyard “Song made no sense. Major tuning been a Barbershopper since 2003.
status of the above quartet (and issues.” jacobkbartlett@gmail.com
barbershop.org | January/February 2019 | The Harmonizer | 25You can also read
