The tidelanders
Barbershop Singing Group
The Houston Tidelanders are an all men’s performing barbershop singing group based in Houston, TX. It is our mission to enhance the lifestyle and culture of our the Greater Houston community by providing wholesome, family-friendly entertainment. Our ensemble of performers seeks to bond diverse people together through a mutual appreciation of a cappella music performed in the barbershop style.
Harmony Homophony
We sing a wide range of genres including country, pop, religious, holiday, and patriotic music by using an a cappella technique called harmony singing. This means that notes are sung by multiple voices simultaneously while there also being a clear and distinct melody line.
Barbershop Singing
Barbershop singing is characterized by harmonies with four voice parts being tenor (the highest), “lead” (aka melody), baritone (below the lead but sometimes above them), and bass (lowest tones and sometimes the rhythm section). The Barbershop style of music is sung or performed a cappella or unaccompanied. Barbershop and Quartets become most popular in the early to mid 1900’s. Barbershop music continues to be popularized in American culture. You can find references to Barbershop Quartets in popular TV shows, movies, and by famous people. See our article on Barbershop in Popular Culture to learn more.
Barbershop Techniques
Particular musical devices used in the barbershop style of music includes the use of chords (major, minor), echo of words or phrases, singers hitting the tonal center of their pitches, syncopated notes or rhythms, and using different keys or time signatures. Naturally, we need to understand basic music theory in order to understand Barbershop music.
History of Barbershop Singing
The origins of the barbershop style of music originated in African American culture and dates back to the 19th century. Barbershop singing has its roots in different forms or genres of music include ragtime, spirituals, and jazz.