NATIONAL BARBERSHOP MUSIC APPRECIATION DAY | JULY 13
Can you hear that sweet music? On July 13th, National Barbershop Music Appreciation Day celebrates a cappella style of music and commemorates the anniversary of one of its musical societies.
#BarbershopMusicAppreciationDay
Barbershop music’s roots lay in African American culture and their traditional improvisational music from the 1800s. Folk songs and hymns sang in four parts led to the four-part harmony of barbershop music.
“There is no bad day that can’t be overcome by listening to a barbershop quartet. This is just truth, plain and simple.” ~ Aldous Huxley
While many of us may associate a cappella music with a quartet, entire choirs also sing barbershop. Barbershop groups also comprise people of all ages and from every background. Their performances can be heard at local events or national competitions. The music is often uplifting, spiritual, or merely fun and features songs with understandable lyrics and easily singable melodies.
Across the country, organizations like the Sweet Adelines, founded on July 13, 1945, bring women of all ages together. The melding of their voices makes crowds swoon to fun tunes. Much like the men’s organizations, the women also compete. They tune their voices and rehearse while also performing locally.
HOW TO OBSERVE BARBERSHOP MUSIC APPRECIATION DAY
Our ability or inability to sing does not prevent us from celebrating National Barbershop Music Day. One thing is certain, if you listen to some four-part harmony to start your day, you’ll likely start it off right. We also suggest several other ways to celebrate!
- Attend a barbershop performance.
- Share your group’s performances online.
- Organize a barbershop performance. Take your quartet or entire choir to the streets and pop up in a park.
- Surprise people on the street with a sweet serenade.
- Join a barbershop group such as Sweet Adelines International.
- Support local organizations that rehearse and perform together.
- Learn to sing a cappella.
- Encourage others to share their talent.
- Discover the history of barbershop music.
Share your celebration using #BarbershopMusicAppreciationDay on social media.
NATIONAL BARBERSHOP MUSIC APPRECIATION DAY HISTORY
Sweet Adelines International founded National Barbershop Music Appreciation Day in 2005 to commemorate the organization’s 60th anniversary. On July 13, 1945, Edna Mae Anderson founded the organization in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Today, it boasts almost 21,000 members worldwide.