Barbershop

Barbershop is four part a cappella singing, sung almost always in four chord. Barbershop isn't a music style rather than an arrangement and performance style that is used to play various music such as ballads, jazz, pop, folk and evergreens.

Barbershop singers want to have a connection with the audience. Barbershop songs are interpreted strongly and the dynamic changes from piano to forte. Emotions and athmosphere are expressed with gestures and facial expressions, often also with choreography. Elaborate apparel is also typical to barbershop choruses and quartets.

History of barbershop style is related to late 1900's in the USA. It has connections to jazz and blues as well as afroamerican music in general. It has been told that the style was born in barbershop salons where men, waiting for their turn, started singing familiar melodies in harmonies. Barbershop was originally sung only in quartets but from the 1950's on choruses have become more popular.