Questions:
Define the following musical terms:
1- Blossom
2- Expanded Sound
3- Glee Club Style
4- Unit Sound
5- Whiskey Tenor
Answers:
1- An arranging technique in which four voices begin in unison and expand to a four-part chord in contrary motion (i.e., one voice part goes lower, the next higher, the next lower, and the last higher).
2- The vibrant ensemble sound that results from the production and reinforcement of overlapping overtones. (What my source didn't say is that the vibrancy manifests itself in greater fullness of sound and increased volume, and occasionally results in an audible fifth note. - Ed.)
3- An arranging style in choral music that places the melody in the highest voice; barbershop melodies are occasionally in the highest voice, but only very rarely. Glee club arrangements also lack the emphasis on dominant seventh chords that barbershop can’t get enough of. This style of harmonization frequently requires the doubling of parts which is prohibited in barbershop harmony except in rare and limited circumstances.
4- Ideal sound production resulting from excellent balance, blend, intonation, matched vowels and strong overtone reinforcement.
5- A barbershop singer (applies to all four voice parts, not only tenors). This archaic term is derived from the caricatures of inebriated quartets in vaudeville.