Do you like barbershop music? It's a style of a cappella close harmony with four-part chords for every melody note.
I don't listen to it often, but from what I've heard it sounds pretty good. Do you know how old it is?
It dates back to the 1930s when barbershops experienced a revival.
Wow not that old then, do you know more about its origins?
It's not well documented, but I do know that it originated in barbershops and is usually performed either by a quartet or a chorus, which is like a choir, just different music.
Interesting, do you know any popular barbershop quartets by any chance?
I don't know any names offhand, but interestingly female barbershop quartets are often called "Sweet Adelines quartets", in association with the Sweet Adeline organization.
That's neat, what exactly is the Sweet Adeline organization?
Sweet Adelines International
Sweet Adelines International is a worldwide organization of women singers, established in 1945, committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performances. This independent, nonprofit music education association is one of the world's largest singing organizations for women. "Harmonize the World" is the organization's motto. It has a current membership of 21,000 and holds an annual international singing competition.
History.
Sweet Adelines International was established in 1945 by Edna Mae Anderson of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The
Barbershop music
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era (1930s–present), is a style of a cappella close harmony, 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