NBC Barbershop Chorus celebrates secular and sacred
The rousing harmonies of traditional barbershop music will fill the air at Emmanuel Heilman Lutheran Church in Ford City on April 11 when the NBC Barbershop Chorus performs a mix of sacred and secular music.
The performance will be part of the church's yearlong 175th anniversary celebration.
Songs will include selections from the chorus' upcoming Western-themed show and sacred music, including “The Lord's Prayer,” “I Believe” and “You Raise Me Up.” Some songs will be performed by the chorus as a whole, while others will be sung by quartets.
“This shows the versatility of our craft,” says John Kerr of Punxsutawney, president of the chorus.
The 30-member chorus is made up of male singers from six Western Pennsylvania counties. It is part of the Barbershop Harmony Society, which works to preserve the a cappella four-part harmony style of the uniquely American music.
Kerr has been a member of NBC for six years and has been singing barbershop music since 1991.
“It has unique harmonies, unique chords,” he says. “I just love to hear the four voices harmonize and the ringing chords.”
Ringing chords are a phenomenon unique to barbershop, in which the harmony of the four voices creates the illusion of a fifth. “When you really ring a good chord, the hair on your arms stands up. It's worth all the work,” Kerr says.
Bill Young of New Bethlehem is assistant director of the chorus. He joined 28 years ago after a member of his church choir encouraged him to try it.
“I just fell in love with it, and I've been with it ever since,” Young says.
Besides the joy of singing in four-part harmony, Young says he enjoys the chorus for its social aspects.
“There's great friendship and fellowship with the other men,” he says. “It's like a big fraternity, really. These men come from all walks of life and six different counties to practice every week.”
Current members' ages range from 25 to 93. Members do not have to read or play music to participate.
“It's open to anyone who has a desire to sing,” Young says.
Sue Boarts, a member of the planning committee for the church's anniversary celebration, says the chorus was chosen as a result of hearing their performance at Emmanuel Heilman's sister church, Christ Lutheran.
“They sang at the sister church and were really good,” she says.
The timing for this performance is perfect — April 11 is Barbershop Quartet Day, which commemorates the founding of the Barbershop Harmony Society in 1938. The society's annual internationl convention and competition will be held June 28 through July 5 in Pittsburgh.
Cookies and punch will be served after the performance.
Boarts believes that people who attend the concert will enjoy the nostalgic feel of the music. The church will host other traditional-style events each month throughout the year, ranging from an old-fashioned hymn sing in the summer to a “hanging of the greens” and creche display in December.
Those who enjoy the chorus will have another chance to see them perform April 25, when it will present “A Western Adventure” at Redbank Valley High School. Tickets are $10 in advance by calling 800-227-4161.
Cynthia Bombach Helzel is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.
