Six guys, probably more genres
December 18, 2009 7:28 PM Subscribe
Repertoire building filter: need ideas to build up a new group of barbershop / jazz / folk / acapella / contemporary style. We are six guys looking to form a quartet. Yes, I know. A quartet is FOUR. Read more below.
We are six guys - all able singers part of a choir to sing Messiah, from high tenor / countertenor to low bass. I used to sing in a barbershop quartet for a couple years, and there's been some interest in starting a new group of some kind. Call it a quartet with two tagalongs or 'buy four, get two free' - or just a group if you like.
The initial brainstorming has gone well - but most acapella / barbershop groups sing the same few dozen of so songs. I want to break out of any one genre, ideally going from something like Frank Sinatra to the Music Man to Freebird (there's GOT to be a vocal arrangement for that somewhere?) to Black Balloon.
The only requirements are that we need sheet music and needs to work with all men's voices.
Here's the question: what songs would you LOVE to hear a male group perform live? Genre doesn't matter, although the ones we've brainstormed all fit into the barbershop, acapella, contemporary, traditional / spiritual, folk genres.
We are six guys - all able singers part of a choir to sing Messiah, from high tenor / countertenor to low bass. I used to sing in a barbershop quartet for a couple years, and there's been some interest in starting a new group of some kind. Call it a quartet with two tagalongs or 'buy four, get two free' - or just a group if you like.
The initial brainstorming has gone well - but most acapella / barbershop groups sing the same few dozen of so songs. I want to break out of any one genre, ideally going from something like Frank Sinatra to the Music Man to Freebird (there's GOT to be a vocal arrangement for that somewhere?) to Black Balloon.
The only requirements are that we need sheet music and needs to work with all men's voices.
Here's the question: what songs would you LOVE to hear a male group perform live? Genre doesn't matter, although the ones we've brainstormed all fit into the barbershop, acapella, contemporary, traditional / spiritual, folk genres.
I can't speak much for barbershop, as I've only really ever heard more traditional groups. A cappella, however, I may give some insight on.
I listen to a ton of a cappella and would like to respectfully disagree with "most acapella / barbershop groups sing the same few dozen of so songs". Barbershop, maybe. But take a look at any of the Best of College A Cappella cds, for example, and there's a pretty varied array- the one that always comes to mind as far as something new and different is "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy". An a cappella group at my university did a Lady Gaga song at their last concert. I think that's one of the most unique ways to break out of the "traditional" a cappella mode (current/well-known songs), but most of what you said you've brainstormed fall into a more traditional mold (to me) so YMMV.
With that said, I think any genre is open provided you have a good arrangement. None of you can arrange at all? Personally, I love any arrangement that mashes different songs together- one of my favorite Christmas albums is from Straight No Chaser (formerly of...Indiana University, I think). The Jingle Bells arrangement combines Jingle Bells with America from West Side Story. But that's obviously going to be different for different people.
posted by kro at 7:53 PM on December 18, 2009
I listen to a ton of a cappella and would like to respectfully disagree with "most acapella / barbershop groups sing the same few dozen of so songs". Barbershop, maybe. But take a look at any of the Best of College A Cappella cds, for example, and there's a pretty varied array- the one that always comes to mind as far as something new and different is "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy". An a cappella group at my university did a Lady Gaga song at their last concert. I think that's one of the most unique ways to break out of the "traditional" a cappella mode (current/well-known songs), but most of what you said you've brainstormed fall into a more traditional mold (to me) so YMMV.
With that said, I think any genre is open provided you have a good arrangement. None of you can arrange at all? Personally, I love any arrangement that mashes different songs together- one of my favorite Christmas albums is from Straight No Chaser (formerly of...Indiana University, I think). The Jingle Bells arrangement combines Jingle Bells with America from West Side Story. But that's obviously going to be different for different people.
posted by kro at 7:53 PM on December 18, 2009
OK, so here's some more. Oh, and following kro, you think barbershop sings the same few dozen songs or so? Time to check back. It's just not so.
Barbershop Harmony Society for sheet music, audio/videos.
a-cappella.com for music, audio (including the straight no chaser album reffed above)
Straight No Chaser: 12 days of Christmas (one of my favourite of theirs). They also have lots on You tube.
It's easy to see how many parts on these, but obviously you could contact the person to find out how to get the arrangements. (Yes, I know you actually have 6 of you and don't need to multitrack).
Don't stop Believing; Scarborough Fair; Cruella de Vil TAG; Singing in the rain
posted by kch at 8:39 PM on December 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
Barbershop Harmony Society for sheet music, audio/videos.
a-cappella.com for music, audio (including the straight no chaser album reffed above)
Straight No Chaser: 12 days of Christmas (one of my favourite of theirs). They also have lots on You tube.
It's easy to see how many parts on these, but obviously you could contact the person to find out how to get the arrangements. (Yes, I know you actually have 6 of you and don't need to multitrack).
Don't stop Believing; Scarborough Fair; Cruella de Vil TAG; Singing in the rain
posted by kch at 8:39 PM on December 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
Here's the Take 6 I was looking for (but not by them). Beautiful!
posted by kch at 8:48 PM on December 18, 2009
posted by kch at 8:48 PM on December 18, 2009
Check out The Persuasions arrangements of both classic doo-wop and modern rock/jazz stuff.
posted by irisclara at 8:51 PM on December 18, 2009
posted by irisclara at 8:51 PM on December 18, 2009
I would paypal you money if you did barbershoppy versions of songs from The Frogs - It's Only Right and Natural. I mean it.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 11:34 PM on December 18, 2009
posted by Joseph Gurl at 11:34 PM on December 18, 2009
The Persuasions: Oh Heavenly Salvation from the Kurt Weill documentary September Songs.
The song is from the Brecht/Weill opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.
Weill wrote some great stuff for male vocal ensembles, kinda like dark haunting barbershop. The above title stands out in my memory.
posted by ovvl at 10:02 AM on December 19, 2009
The song is from the Brecht/Weill opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.
Weill wrote some great stuff for male vocal ensembles, kinda like dark haunting barbershop. The above title stands out in my memory.
posted by ovvl at 10:02 AM on December 19, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by kch at 7:51 PM on December 18, 2009