Singing Valentines
Encyclopedia
Singing Valentines is the name for a fundraising
program that is popular with barbershop
choruses
in the U.S.
The delivery of Singing Valentines is usually done by a barbershop quartet from a chapter
affiliated with the three major U.S. barbershop societies:
Note that this is not really a variation on the singing telegram
, since the message detail is not dictated by the sender.
Rather, quartets usually deliver a canned package of one or two barbershop songs
with a personalized card and either roses or chocolates.
chapters, the typical two song selection is:
There are standard barbershop arrangement
s for these two songs from the Barbershop Harmony Society
collection of twelve polecat songs (that society members are encouraged to learn).
The female barbershop societies do not suggest particular songs for chapters to use in this fundraiser.
facilities or nursing home
s can be scheduled for the weekend.
singing ensembles have been known to set up similar fundraising programs, particularly on college campuses.
Notably, there is even a reference to Singing Valentines in chapter thirteen of the popular book: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
.
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
program that is popular with barbershop
Barbershop music
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era , is a style of a cappella, or unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture...
choruses
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
in the U.S.
The delivery of Singing Valentines is usually done by a barbershop quartet from a chapter
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
affiliated with the three major U.S. barbershop societies:
- Barbershop Harmony SocietyBarbershop Harmony SocietyThe Barbershop Harmony Society, legally and historically named the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. , is the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop music as an art form. Founded by Owen C...
- Sweet Adelines InternationalSweet Adelines InternationalSweet Adelines International is a worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performances. This independent, nonprofit music education association is one of the world's largest singing organizations for women...
- Harmony, Incorporated
Note that this is not really a variation on the singing telegram
Singing telegram
A singing telegram is a message that is delivered by an artist in a musical form. Singing telegrams are historically linked to normal telegrams, but tend to be humorous. Sometimes the artist is in costume or formal clothing. Singing telegrams are often given as a gift.Western Union, the American...
, since the message detail is not dictated by the sender.
Rather, quartets usually deliver a canned package of one or two barbershop songs
Barbershop arranging
Barbershop arranging is the art of creating arrangements of barbershop music. The Barbershop Harmony Society has prescribed rules that dictate what is an acceptable arrangement, particularly with regard to singing in competition...
with a personalized card and either roses or chocolates.
Song selection
Each chapter is free to choose their own music. For male barbershopBarbershop music
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era , is a style of a cappella, or unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture...
chapters, the typical two song selection is:
- Heart of My HeartHeart of My HeartHeart of My Heart is a popular song. The music and lyrics were written by Ben Ryan in 1926. It reminisces about singing a song called "Heart of My Heart" in a youthful quartet.-History and Origins:...
, I Love You (the chorus from the Story of the Rose), and - Let Me Call You SweetheartLet Me Call You Sweetheart"Let Me Call You Sweetheart" is a popular song, with music by Leo Friedman and lyrics by Beth Slater Whitson. The song was published in 1910 and first recorded by The Peerless Quartet....
There are standard barbershop arrangement
Barbershop arranging
Barbershop arranging is the art of creating arrangements of barbershop music. The Barbershop Harmony Society has prescribed rules that dictate what is an acceptable arrangement, particularly with regard to singing in competition...
s for these two songs from the Barbershop Harmony Society
Barbershop Harmony Society
The Barbershop Harmony Society, legally and historically named the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. , is the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop music as an art form. Founded by Owen C...
collection of twelve polecat songs (that society members are encouraged to learn).
The female barbershop societies do not suggest particular songs for chapters to use in this fundraiser.
Logistics
Some of the larger choruses are able to field enough quartets to deliver as many as 200 Singing Valentines in two days, usually on the February 13 and 14. Often, deliveries to assisted livingAssisted living
Assisted living residences or assisted living facilities provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living ; coordination of services by outside health care providers; and monitoring of resident activities to help to ensure their health, safety, and well-being.Assistance may...
facilities or nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
s can be scheduled for the weekend.
Other Singing Valentines
Although the delivery of Singing Valentines is typically done by a barbershop quartet, other a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
singing ensembles have been known to set up similar fundraising programs, particularly on college campuses.
Notably, there is even a reference to Singing Valentines in chapter thirteen of the popular book: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second novel in the Harry Potter series written by J. K. Rowling. The plot follows Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, during which a series of messages on the walls on the school's corridors warn that the "Chamber of...
.
External links
- Quartets sing to your heart's desire on Valentine's Day, Star Bulletin, February 7, 2006
- To Horseheads with love, from Okinawa , Star Gazette, March 12, 2008
- Singing Valentines Quartets