Barbershop music
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
Related e |
Featured: |
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era (1930s–present), is a style of a cappella, 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. Occasional passages may be sung by fewer than four voice parts.
See also
- A cappella
- Barbershop arranging
- Close harmony
- Doo-wop
- List of quartet champions by year
- List of chorus champions by year
- List of BABS quartet champions by year
- List of LABBS quartet champions by year
- List of Sweet Adelines International quartet champions by year
- American Harmony Documentary Film (2009) about Barbershop music
- Sweet Adelines International