Something very dear to my heart is Barbershop Singing. I grew up listening to my Grandfather sing with his chorus, "Friends of Harmony" every year for their shows with special quartets and guest singers. Growing up with this has given me a greater appreciation for music, in all genres. Not many people go around talking about how great that Barbershop Quartet was, or when the next one is going to be. It's something only those really raised with it know when something is coming up. Barbershop singers are a dying breed from what they once were.
After my Grandfather passed, I found that there was a Sweet Adelines group near me, and I joined them. (Sweet Adelines is Barbershop singing for women!) This was a wonderful choice on my part. Singing is something I love, and have done since I can remember. When I was in Elementary School, I remember getting into Select Chorus and County Chorus a year earlier in 3rd Grade, when you had to be in 4th. And onward I went, singing in school chorus, county chorus, church choir, private lessons, choir all throughout middle and high school. High School was the height of singing, my sophomore year my school went down to NYC to sing in Lincoln Center! That was quite the event, we got to see STOMP on Broadway, too! College brought me to the Sweet Adelines. The year I joined, it was before Christmas, so I was learning all the holiday music, and then afterwards, got to learn our Competition music! We went to Competition in Syracuse that year, and for the first time in a long while, our choir placed! We came in second for small choirs! Seeing each choir perform was like learning a little about each of them, their style of music, how they sang, each one's talents. It was such a fun event! I'm not singing with them now, goodness knows I'm way too busy even to have a day to myself, but I'd love to sing again! (And not just to my steering wheel or shower head!)
To everyone out there, I highly recommend seeing your local groups perform. It might be "old style" music, but its such a fun show, the harmony the music has gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, and lets you know just how wonderful this style of music really is.
Below are some of my favorite videos:
Hope you all like this!
Let me know what you all think!
XOXOXO
I liked this. I listened to two of them. My favorite part of church services when I was growing up was the wonderful old hymns, with easy alto harmony. Holy holy holy. Christmas hymns. And I had a girlfriend who had a good soprano; our favorite was He Walks With Me. I hope your fiancé harmonizes with you. A lovely way to be together.
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