Barbershoppers calling for recruits

BANGOR – It looked like a standard news release for the national headquarters: “Men of all ages who like to sing are invited to the Maine-ly Music Chorus’ guest night at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at the Bangor Parks and Recreation Department, 647 Main St.”

That covered the subject, but I wondered how I could really communicate what it means to get together with other guys just because we all like to sing. Could I get it across to men who think they can’t sing (because we think most anyone can)? And how could I relate what the payoff is once you walk through the door?

Sometimes it’s the kick we get when we just “ring a chord.” That’s when all four voice parts are really in tune, and the word-sounds match just right. It produces either an overtone or an undertone, so four men sound like five voices. Then, I realized, you can’t really explain it unless you’ve been there.

Or could I explain what it’s like to work on a challenging piece of music when it all “comes together.” Maybe tell them what it’s like the first time the basses (low-range guys who

usually sing harmony) get to sing the

melody for a few bars – arrangers do that, just for variety. What about singing in a quartet, where modern, close harmony singing without accompaniment was made famous and forever associated with guys singing in the barbershop?

I thought about targeting the health-conscious crowd who may already know that singing helps build lung power and provides gentle upper body exercise. Maybe stress the fun of friendly competition at barbershop contests (one of which our little chorus actually won) or the thrill of hearing the best barbershop singers anywhere at an annual international convention.

Maybe the easiest thing to do is just invite men to experience it all for themselves.

That’s the whole idea behind a North America-wide recruitment campaign by the Barbershop Harmony Society. The Maine-ly Music Chorus represents the society’s Bangor Chapter. There is no charge for the Sept. 12 event, which is actually just the first in a series of rehearsals.

“You don’t have to have a terrific voice or know how to read music,” said Wayne Leighton, chapter president. “The only requirement is that you enjoy singing, fun and fellowship. And, this is a great hobby for fathers and sons to share.”

Guests will be invited to join in singing harmony. Refreshments will be served.

“We want men to enjoy the thrill of making a chord ring,” Leighton said. “That takes more than talent, it takes a positive attitude and desire.”

Men like Dave Nealley are among our local ambassadors. He attended an annual concert by the Maine-ly Music Chorus.

“I enjoyed the music so much I wanted to hear more,” he said. “Even though I did not consider myself a singer and was a little intimidated at first, I went to hear them at a rehearsal and decided to join. I have been a member for almost 10 years.”

Membership in the chapter offers men an opportunity to improve their singing ability, participate in competitions with other chapters and present public shows and concerts in the local area.

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 the 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.

The Barbershop Harmony Society is an international singing organization with more than 30,000 members throughout the United States and Canada. The society offers a broad program of music education for men interested in furthering their knowledge and appreciation of vocal music. Local chapters also support a number of charitable causes.

For more information, call Dave Rode, 947-5477; Russ Van Arsdale, 989-4945; or e-mail mainelymusic@yahoo.com. For information outside the local area, call (899) 799-SING, or visit www.youcansingtoo.com.