The Barbershop Group used to be formed from present and past members of the main choir, who enjoy singing together in close harmony. It used to meet informally as the occasion demands to work on their ever-increasing barbershop and male voice repertoire and to maintain the high musical standards expected by their audiences.
The repertoire ranges from classic four-part, close harmony arrangements of 1920’s and 30’s show stoppers and the glee-style “Songs of Yale” to works as varied as John Dunstable (15th century) madrigals, romantic pieces like Stanford’s “Songs of Old Ireland” and “modern” barbershop.
Always entertaining and engaging, this ever-popular, easy listening music disguises complexities in harmonies and execution as well as providing the opportunity to explore neglected corners of all-male chamber music.
The size of the group (four to eight voices) means that it could adapt to a wide variety of situations and the extensive range of repertoire can be tailored to most occasions. The group has sung sets within the main Choir concert and was in demand for after-dinner entertainment and similar events, as well as smaller scale performances on its own. Occasionally they were also asked to sing during ecclesiastical services.
Appearances have included Harlow Music Society, Loughton Folk Club, Rotary Club President’s Night Dinner at the Manor of Groves Country Park Hotel, and a Hertford Civic Society garden party.
