THE CD PLAN
 Content of the SUMMIT CD

1) Develop a good unison.
Start out singing common songs in unison -- the same notes at the same time .... ear-training ...

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Home on the Range
B-I-N-G-O
Oh Susanna
She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain
Old McDonald Had a Farm
The Ants Going Marching
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
(click here for lyrics)

2) Start with simple harmonies, like rounds -- to give the singers some independence -- simple rounds is perfect for this level.... and give success after some time

Row Row Row Your Boat
Are You Sleeping
Three Blind Mice
(click here for lyrics)

3) Introduce harmony on songs where harmony parts are just almost naturally felt/heard.... ones that we just "know" where harmony might be (higher or lower than the melody) for a few notes or a whole chorus:

I've Been Working on the Railroad
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
(click here for lyrics)

4) Then wrap-up with short Barbershop demonstrations
(list of possible songs in the right column)

  • "Now listen or sing along with XYZ quartet as they sing this same song in 4-part harmony - barbershop style"
  • In the barbershop songs, we want to keep the lead very predominant ... so that there's no question where the melody line is.
  • We think that it will be possible to teach how to “sing-a-long” with a quartet singing a tag. Tag singing is such a part of our barbershop way of getting together - that we think there must be a way to do it, and still keep the entire CD project fun and simple.

DEADLINES

The goal is to have all recordings
finished by January 30, 2008.

We know that the learning and making
a good recording can be a lengthy part
of the process, given everybody's busy schedules. We appreciate your help.

Here are our deadlines:

  • Jan 30: Recordings submitted
    for the CD.
  • Mar 1: CD master ready for duplicating, cover design ready,
    and production ready to go.
  • HCNW 2008 : First CDs ready
    for distribution.

Quartets Needed!
Singers Needed!

CD Project for the
BARBERSHOP SUMMIT
(Northwestern USA and Western Canada)

WHAT IS THE SUMMIT CD PROJECT?
The BBS Summit wants to produce and give away an educational CD introducing everyone (men, women, children) to simple barbershop harmonies -- by producing a CD with fun songs to sing along with -- in unison, then in simple 2-part harmony, and end with some simple barbershop favorites including a creative tag or two. The main idea is to get people singing, so we need to “keep it simple so that everyone can enjoy the experience.”

I would like to feature the familiar voices of our barbershoppers (men and women) within the Pacific Barbershop Summit boundaries. Some parts of the CD will need solos or unison singing, some will need a somple harmony added, and of course, we'll end with 4-part harmony barbershop style.

RECORDING BARBERSHOP SONGS

For the selected barbershop arrangements, I am looking for quartets to learn primarily the chorus and tags/endings for the Barbershop Harmony Society's arrangements listed below, digitally record them, and give the recording for use with the CD project.

Seven men's barbershop arrangements have been picked for the CD (with assistance from Joe Liles). These songs are public domain in both the US and Canada. The copyright for each arrangement is held by SPEBSQSA and we have received permission to use them for the CD project.


PICK YOUR SONGS
Click on the titles below to view and/or download the arrangements and pick which one(s) you'd be willing
to learn (or review), record, and submit for the project.

To avoid everyone picking the same song, please
email which song(s) you would like to work on ....
and then I'll mark that one on the list as "already selected"
CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME YOUR CHOICE(S)

BARBERSHOP
ARRANGEMENTS

Give My Regards to Broadway (chorus)

Good Night Ladies (both choruses)

I've Been Working on the Railroad (chorus)

In the Good Old Summertime (chorus)

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (chorus)

Down by the Old Mill Stream (chorus)

AND

Auld Lang Syne (whole song)

 

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:

  1. Digital audio recording of the songs' choruses and endings as written in the arrangement... singing through it twice (creating a short bridge or transition if you feel it is needed). You can also pitch the song up or down and you can make minor tweaks to the arrangements.

    For "Auld Lang Syne" we would like to use a recording of the whole arrangement.
  2. Separate digital audio recording of the melody line as it was sung in four parts for the choruses that you sang (could be in unison or solo)
  3. Digital audio recording of the simple sing-a-long songs which will start the CD and are used to lead up to the four-part songs. These should be sung in a key for "family singing" .. not too high or too low. See list of songs and words. These are to be in unison or solo.
  4. Performers' information: Name of quartet making the recording and a list of the names of the singers and which part they are singing. This information will be used in the CD cover to give you credit for your contribution.
  5. Release letter: Giving permission to the Pacific Barbershop Summit to use your recording for this CD project signed by each of the singers.

When the recordings are completed, you can either email the digital files and the performers' information to me, or you can mail them on a CD along with your release letter to:

Judy Galloway
2520 Montello
Hood River, OR 97031
COPYRIGHT ISSUES ?
In order to freely give away copies of the CDs, the music must be free of any “strings” including any licensing fees or legal fees. This quickly narrowed the list down to songs that are in the public domain (both in the US and Canada) ... and for the barbershop selections we needed simple (easy to sing with) arrangements. Rick Spencer, on behalf of the Barbershop Harmony Society, has given us permission to use, record, and distribute the arrangements listed above which are pulled from the Heritage of Harmony Songbook for this project. We are not infringing on any copyright laws.