1- A problem with harmonization of most 19th century (post Civil War) songs was the lack of variety of the chords then used. A barbershop song which is still sung to this day featured a good deal of this otherwise difficult-to-find variety, and, consequently, is seen as an extremely important milestone in the development of the barbershop idiom. Name the song, and, for extra credit, the year in which it was written.
2- When and by whom was the term "Barbershop Harmony" first used in print?
3- One of the most dearly beloved barbershop ballads of all time is "Last Night Was The End Of The World"; "I Want A Girl Just Like The Girl Who Married Dear Old Dad", and "Wait 'Till The Sun Shines Nellie" were also written by the same composer. Name him.
4- In the very early days of recorded barbershop music, the 1890's and the early years of the 20th century, three quartets above all others achieved stardom. They were, in fact, household names in their day. Name them.
5- The lead of the Peerless Quartet, which was active from 1906 until 1928, is very probably the most recorded singer in world history, having twelve thousand (!) recorded songs to his credit. As a benchmark, Bing Crosby recorded 1/10th that number. Name this extremely famous turn-of-the-20th-century barbershopper.
Answers to Barbershop History Quiz:
1- "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen," written in 1876
2- In 1900 by "Tom the Tattler," (my source did not indicate Tom's last name) a newspaper music critic. In an odd twist of history, Tom absolutely lambasted barbershop in his review and dismissed it as "musical slang". Go figure.
3- Harry Von Tilzer
4- The American Quartet, the Haydn Quartet, and the Peerless Quartet
5- Henry Burr