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The annual barbershop singing festival was hosted at BHS on Sept 20. Over a hundred high school singers all around the Puget Sound area attended this special event, excited to experiment with barbershop harmony singing.
From registering at nine in the morning to performing at six in the evening, the participants went through approximately six hours of pure training. Participants worked through a range of songs, from soothing lullabies to fast-paced contemporary songs like “I’m Still Standing.” They received advice from professional barbershop singers that sharpened their skills in general, learning how to breathe together better.
“I loved getting to meet new people and sing some pop songs like ‘I'm Still Standing.’ It was also fun having an informal concert at the end of the day where we got to show off our hard work,” senior Felissa Gill said.
But what is Barbershop harmony singing, and why does it matter? To understand that, we must explore how it started. It originated from African American communities back in the late 19th century. Though historians don’t always agree on how this music came to be exactly, a popular belief is that men engaged in social gatherings at barbershops, with music playing a crucial role in such gatherings. What started rather informal gradually evolved into what barbershop harmony is known as today—a four-part a cappella group with close harmonies. Because each part sings a note very close to the other parts, the sound delivered is very resonant and warm, as if all the voices are perfectly blended.
“[We heard] some real barbershop quartets. They sounded so good,” Gill said.
For most of the participants, this offered a unique opportunity to learn about new vocal styles. At the majority of school choirs, including Bellevue High’s, the most common styles of music are choral, gospel, and pop singing, with sopranos singing the melody traditionally. Barbershop harmony distinguishes itself since the highest part, “Tenor,” is a harmony above the melody. The melody line is known as “Lead,” exactly what its name suggests. “Bass” sings the lowest notes, and “Baritone” completes the chord. But ultimately, barbershop and choral music share similarities, such as the need to balance.
“The barbershop festival was super fun, and it was really cool to learn a new type of music,” junior Kayla Turner said.
The festival wasn’t just about having fun, though.
“Working with different adults and students from other schools helped us learn more about the way we think about and learn music,” Turner said.
With each song, we try to understand music from different perspectives and find joy during the exploration. This opportunity will continue next year, and anyone is welcome to join and get singing coaching.
