Golden Harvest Sharp Notes

Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America

He came, this young Canadian,
From out the Golden West,
Full of courage and of faith,
Of ardour, hope, and zest.
A willing volunteer, he came -
And offered us his life -
His youth, his strength, his heart and soul
To fling into the strife.
The final sacrifice he made,
He lies in foreign earth -
Far from home, an exile
From the country of his birth.
And yet, amongst his kin he sleeps
In friendly company -
No stranger, but an Honoured Son
Of one great family.

Come sing with us -- we have a number of singouts planned over the Christmas season, and we would love to have you join with us as we sing our Christmas repertoire. This would be a great opportunity to come out and see what we're up to, and a chance to renew friendships with former colleagues. Drop in and see us any Monday night, or give any member a call.

Chapter Elections were held on Monday October 5^th -- a complete list of your new 1998/1999 executive can be found on the next page. As you will quickly see, yours truly has accepted the honour of chapter presidency (or as I explained to my wife, I was the slowest to duck). Seriously though, I appreciate the confidence the chapter has placed in me and I am looking forward to a fun and exciting year in this new role. Stuart already has us started off this way with lots of singouts for the fall and Christmas season; we have a Chorus Christmas party scheduled for Monday December 14^th;; we've had a first meeting of the new executive, and our December executive meeting will be business/pleasure at my place on Tuesday December 8^th. Be sure to check out the other articles in the bulletin for more details on these and other upcoming activities.

As you review the list of chapter executive members, you'll notice below that there are a few empty spaces. Our chorus is like many other things in life -- the more you put in, the more you get back from it. So, if you can help out in any way, please do so. If I or any of the executive approach you with a task or position -- please give it your consideration. The pay isn't much, but the rewards are many.

Your New 1998/1999 Chapter Executive
President - Bruce Fish	Immediate Past President - Dave Pearce
District Delegate - Bruce Fish	Secretary - Wayne Keys
Music Director - Ken Holzer	Treasurer - Rod Schlosser
Assistant Music Director - Ron Evans	Chapter Development VP -
Music & Performance VP - Ron Evans	Public Relations VP - Gord Gardiner
Quartet Promotion -	Program VP - Stuart Reiley
Service & Charities Chairman - Jack Boan	Bulletin Editor - Bruce Fish
Music Librarian - Wayne Keys	Chorus Manager - Stuart Reiley
Uniform Chairman - Bill Quick	Bingo Reminders - Lynn Lowes
Heartspring/Labels -	Coffee Chairperson - Stuart Reiley
Show Chairman - Lynn Lowes	Learning Tapes - Ron Evans
Tag Coordinator - John Leitch

Many thanks to Darrell for volunteering the use of his farm and supplying the beef for the BBQ. The weather was slightly less than co-operative, but we all moved indoors and had a wonderful afternoon and evening.

We will be singing the afternoon of Friday December 18^th for the School Board staff Christmas party.

Welcome to Ken Cameron. We're glad to have you come out and sing with us on several occasions now.

Hi Golden Harvest-ites! I hope your year is up and running in fine form! Thanks Bruce, for the article in the last edition. You obviously pulled it off the Georgian College web site. On top of that, my arrival here has netted me two pictures in the "Packet and Times", the Orillia daily newspaper. I was in Regina from 1975 until 1998 and didn't get my picture in the Leader Post once, except perhaps as part of the chorus. What do they say about big fish in smaller ponds?

We're settling in nicely here. As I mentioned to Bruce, we're currently renting a friend's beach house on Georgian Bay, which has been great given the fall we've had here. I understand it hasn't been too shabby there either. However, while you were suffering in the snow on Thanksgiving weekend, our temperatures were into the twenties. In fact, a friend of ours was swimming in Georgian Bay on the Sunday. It was great! In any case, I believe we'll probably live there until towards spring, when we're more certain of what the future will hold for us.

I haven't had time to get out singing here yet, due to the busy time getting ourselves settled into my job and a new family routine. I do remember Tom Harris' saying "If you're too busy to sing, you're just too busy", so I've started looking into what I will do. From where we're living, I'm 10 minutes from the Midland Chapter (Bob Megaw loves Midland), but I know very little about them. I suspect they're a small chapter, not unlike Regina. A 30-minute drive will get me to the Barrie Chapter (population 90,000). Their web site tells me that they have a 70 man chorus and were 1994 Ontario District Champs! My membership comes due in December, so I may become a Frank Thorne member and visit the two chapters for a bit to see where I want to land. Henk Bertch informs me that the director in Barrie is quite outstanding (and I am used to having an outstanding director). I think if I were to take a longer-term view, Barrie may win out -- but Midland may be the shorter-term ticket due to distance given our current living arrangement. I'll keep you posted. It sure is nice to have choice within such a short distance.

I'm looking forward to taking in some chapter shows here. With the Toronto chapters about an hour away, there should be the critical mass to attract some big name quartets to the 3 or more Metro Toronto chapters. They have nice web pages at least!

I hear from Tom Harris and Henk Bertch frequently via e-mail. Henk is planning to go to the Nanaimo chapter show. They have Acoustix booked! Don't let Mike hear about that Ken!

I don't want to hog space in this edition and pre-empt the many articles I'm sure Bruce has to choose from. I will promise, however, to give you frequent updates on my experience as a "Barbershop Freelance Baritone in Simcoe County"

The chorus is getting new black Tux's. Many of you have already been down to Venice Tailors (south Albert, next to McDonalds's on the east side) for fitting. Those who haven't, please drop in as soon as possible -- any time during business hours for fitting. No appointment needed.

Congratulations to John Leitch and Dave Pearce. Welcome back for another year of song, laughter and friendships that last a lifetime.

This was a very successful performance and the members really seemed to enjoy it. All reports from the public indicated that we sounded real good and they had enjoyed our singing. We have contacted Don McDougall and he has suggested that we sing live pre-game in front of the stadium next year (tail-gate party?).

One of the most significant achievements of the National Capital Commission's Christmas Lights Across Canada program is the way it brings Canadians together and links the Capital Region with Canada's 12 provinces and territories. This nationwide, cooperative effort illuminates the country with hundreds of thousands of brilliant and colourful holiday lights. From Pacific to Atlantic, Canadians join in joyous holiday celebration. The message to Canadians is crystal clear: this lighting tradition symbolically links them in pride and harmony.

As in other years, the NCC will reinforce the idea of linked capitals by sending a gift of lights to each province and territory.

Holiday wishes for harmony and unity, as well as feelings of pride and respect, are all key to the success of the Christmas Lights Across Canada program.

The Golden Harvest Chorus is once again honoured to have been invited to sing at the Legislature as part of the Saskatchewan participation in the Christmas Lights Across Canada program on Thursday, December 3^rd. Make sure to mark this date on your calendar.

None scheduled until the New Year -- thanks to everyone who has helped out with this important source of revenue during the past year.

The next scheduled Chapter Executive meeting will be Tuesday, December 8^th at Bruce & Elaine's home -- 2327 Brodie Bay -- at 7:30 pm. This will be a combined business meeting / Christmas get-together. All current and past executive members are welcome (but in the interests of marital harmony, please let me know in advance if possible if you are planning to attend). This will be a chance for us to conduct our business meeting and then talk about our barbershop hobby and chapter directions for the upcoming year, while enjoying some Christmas harmonies and goodies.

Rod has this set up (all but for a few remaining members) for the chorus. With this, we’ll be able to quickly and easily send out announcements to the entire membership. Rod has already contacted those members who aren't set up yet (or who don't already have Talk Mail on their phone) -- so take this as a reminder.

We have learning tapes for most of our repertoire. Purchase tape 1 and 2 for $1.50 each. If you have an 'old' tape, turn it into Ron and get a new one with the new repertoire.

Once again we're planning on having a Christmas season get-together for all the chapter members -- and once again, Lynn has graciously arranged for the use of his party room for Monday December 14th.

A Cappella Radio International

SPEBSQSA is proud to team up with CASA to underwrite A Cappella Radio International, the worldwide showcase of the human voice. SPEBSQSA's commitment to supporting all forms of vocal music is an expression of our motto, "Keep The Whole World Singing!" By my count, there's about 12 hours of A Cappella music online -- so far I've listened to about an hour and a half and it’s a great variety of music with lots of good listening and with lots of good barbershop included. If you get the opportunity, make sure you check it out at http://www.spebsqsa.org/ari/

LOL'ers -- this is a rare non-LOL posting...but I wanted those of you not on the Harmonet to know about this exciting news item! You probably remember news reports of what kind of music Senator John Glenn was going to bring aboard the space shuttle...well, at least one of the CD's he brought is BARBERSHOP!! Read on...

Heard your piece this morning on the astronauts choosing their CDs for their trip. You were right that Sen. Glenn's listening preferences may be something more tame than suggested by those attending the launch.

Fact is Sen. Glenn will be taking one or two CDs produced by the Alexandria (VA) Harmonizers, a local non-profit barbershop chorus that has won the barbershop society's international championship four times (1986, 1989, 1995, and 1998), one of only four chapters in the society (800+) to have done so. (They might have won even more times, but a chorus cannot compete for another three years when it wins.)

The reason: Sen. Glenn is a long-time fan of the Harmonizers, attending at least our fall show, and often both our fall and springs shows) every year. This year, however, our show will be held this coming weekend (8:00pm Fri, Oct 30, and 2:00pm and 8:00pm Sat, Oct 31, at T.C. Williams High School on King Street in Alexandria-but he'll be in space. Thus the CDs.

I sure wouldn't hurt us if you would mention our show in the same breath as Sen. Glenn -- and you'd scoop everyone else with a local interest tie too.

Please call if you have any questions, especially about the Harmonizers -- who, for example, performed at the Kennedy Center Honors last December and at the Supreme Court last June.

Brian [Lynch], You asked me to let you know if Senator John Glen actually took a Harmonizer recording into space with him. Today at approximately 6:15 A.M. on our local NBC affiliate station WRC-TV Alan Wile, the President of the Alexandria, VA Chapter and Jon Abel were interviewed by one of the Co-anchors. They showed the tape of the Harmonizers at the International Contest in Atlanta and discussed our fall show which Senator Glen usually attends. The news report indicated that Senator Glen had taken a recording into space with him since he could not attend the Harmonizers show.

I do not know if Howard Nestlerode was able to arrange for Senator Glen to get wake-up music by the Harmonizers from the Johnston Space Center in Houston.

SPEBSQSA Tutorials

SPEBSQSA offers several quick "show & tell" tutorials on their web site which will have you speaking knowledgably about barbershop in just five minutes. Whether you're new to barbershop, or an old hand, you'll find these article interesting.

In which we take a quick look back to minstrel shows, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1938, and a fellow named O. C. Cash.

Tutorial One - In which we hear a quartet sing, think about the notes, and talk tags

SPEBSQSA is devoted to promoting, preserving, and enjoying a special form of harmony known as barbershop. But what makes a particular song or arrangement "barbershop-able"? What's the difference between barbershop and doo-wop, jazz, madrigal, and other a cappella music?

Technically speaking, barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied singing with three voices harmonizing to the melody. The lead usually sings the melody, with the tenor harmonizing above the lead. The bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes and the baritone provides in-between notes, either above or below the lead to make chords (specifically, dominant-type or "barbershop" sevenths) that give barbershop its distinctive, "full" sound.

Probably the most distinctive facet of barbershop harmony is the phenomenon known as expanded sound. It is created when the harmonics in the individually-sung tones reinforce each other to produce audible overtones or undertones. Barbershoppers call this "ringing a chord." Singing in a quartet or chorus and creating that "fifth voice" is one of the most thrilling musical sensations you'll ever experience, leading to goosebumps the size of golf balls.

You heard Michigan J. Frog sing it in the cartoons. now hear what it really ought to sound like. Hear 1989 Quartet Champions Second Edition sing Hello! My Baby. [At this point you click on the link, and hear Second Edition's rendition of Hello! My Baby -- complete with golf-ball size goosebumps by the time they get to the tag.]

Tutorial Two - In which we take a quick look back to minstrel shows, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1938, and a fellow named O. C. Cash.

Certainly - and on street corners (it was sometimes called "curbstone" harmony) and at social functions and in parlors. Its roots are not just the white, Middle-America of Norman Rockwell's famous painting. Rather, barbershop is a "melting pot" product of African-American musical devices, European hymn-singing culture, and an American tradition of recreational music a tradition SPEBSQSA continues today.

Minstrel shows of the mid-1800s often consisted of white singers in blackface (later black singers themselves) performing songs and sketches based on a romanticized vision of plantation life. As the minstrel show was supplanted by the equally popular vaudeville, the tradition of close-harmony quartets remained, often as a "four act" combining music with ethnic comedy that would be scandalous by modern standards.

The "barbershop" style of music is first associated with black southern quartets of the 1870s, such as The American Four and The Hamtown Students. The African influence is particularly notable in the improvisational nature of the harmonization, and the flexing of melody to produce harmonies in "swipes" and "snakes." Black quartets "cracking a chord" were commonplace at places like Joe Sarpy's Cut Rate Shaving Parlor in St. Louis, or in Jacksonville, Florida, where, black historian James Weldon Johnson writes, "every barbershop seemed to have its own quartet."

The first written use of the word "barbershop" when referring to harmonizing came in 1910, with the publication of the song, "Play That Barbershop Chord"—evidence that the term was in common parlance by that time.

Today, we are accustomed to receiving all forms of music in every home by way of CD, cassette, radio and video. In the early 1900s, though, pop music success depended on sales of sheet music to the general public.

The songwriters of Tin Pan Alley made their living by appealing to the needs and tastes of the recreational musician. To become a sheet-music hit, songs had to be easily singable by average singers, with average vocal ranges and average control. This called for songs with simple, straightforward melodies, and heartfelt, commonplace themes and images. Music published in that era often included an instrumental arrangement for piano or ukelele, and also a vocal arrangement for male quartet

The phonograph made it possible to actually hear the new songs coming from Tin Pan Alley. Professional quartets recorded hundreds of songs for the Victor, Edison, and Columbia labels, which spurred sheet music sales. For example, "You're The Flower Of My Heart, Sweet Adeline" captured the hearts of harmony lovers, not simply because it easily adapted to harmony, but also because it was heavily promoted by the popular Quaker City Four and other quartets.

The coming of radio prompted a shift in American popular music. Songwriters turned out more sophisticated melodies for the professional singers of radio and phonograph. These songs did not adapt as well to impromptu harmonization, because they placed a greater emphasis on jazz rhythms and melodies that were better suited to dancing than to casual crooning.

Radio quartets kept close harmony singing popular with many amateur singers, though—and these singers were ready for the revival of barbershop harmony that took place in April 1938, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

While travelling to Kansas City on business, Tulsa tax attorney O. C. Cash happened to meet fellow Tulsan Rupert Hall in the lobby of the Muehlebach Hotel. The men fell to talking and discovered they shared a mutual love of vocal harmony. Together they bemoaned the decline of that all-American institution, the barbershop quartet, and decided to stem that decline.

Signing their names as "Rupert Hall, Royal Keeper of the Minor Keys, and O. C. Cash, Third Temporary Assistant Vice Chairman," of the "Society for the Preservation and Propagation of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in the United States" [sic], the two invited their friends to songfest on the roof garden of the Tulsa Club, on April 11, 1938.

Twenty-six men attended that first meeting, and returned the following week with more friends. About 150 men attended the third meeting, and the grand sounds of harmony they raised on the rooftop created quite a stir. A traffic jam formed outside the hotel. While police tried to straighten out the problem, a reporter of the local newspaper heard the singing, sensed a great story, and joined the meeting.

O. C. Cash bluffed his way through the interview, saying his organization was national in scope, with branches in St. Louis, Kansas City and elsewhere. He simply neglected to mention was that these "branches" were just a few scattered friends who enjoyed harmonizing, but knew nothing of Cash's new club.

Cash's flair for publicity, combined with the unusual name (the ridiculous initials poked fun at the alphabet soup of New Deal programs), made an irresistible story for the news wire services, which spread it coast-to-coast. Cash's "branches" started receiving puzzling calls from men interested in joining the barbershop society. Soon, groups were meeting throughout North America to sing barbershop harmony.

For more information, contact the Heritage Hall Museum of Barbershop Harmony at (800) 876-SING or email musem@spebsqsa.org

Articles in this bulletin do not necessarily reflect the views of the chapter. Unless carrying a byline, they are those of the editor. Items received may be referred to the executive before publication. All chapter officers and members are encouraged to submit articles to the Sharp Notes. Submissions will be credited to the author. Please address any comments, suggestions or submissions to the editor -- Bruce Fish.

(All of the above are 'vocal' versions, the following are instrumental)

We have learning tapes for most of our repertoire. Purchase tape 1 and 2 for $1.50 each. If you have an 'old' tape, turn it into Ron and get a new one with the new repertoire.

Once again we're planning on having a Christmas season get-together for all the chapter members -- and once again, Lynn has graciously arranged for the use of his party room for Monday December 14th.

A Cappella Radio International

SPEBSQSA Tutorials