Capitol Chordsmen

press release:  The Madison area's best-kept musical secret will be having their annual show Saturday evening, October 1, at 7 pm, at the Middleton Performing Arts Center. Tickets for Saturday's show are available now by contacting the chorus at info@capitolchordsmen.org or calling 608-620-5583.

The members of the Madison area Capitol Chordsmen Chorus have been entertaining audiences since 1945, thrilling audiences and keeping alive the near-lost art of four-part barbershop harmony.  Part of the International Barbershop Harmony Society, the Capitol Chordsmen Chorus are one of several chapters of men's barbershop choruses in Wisconsin.

Barbershop harmony is a uniquely American style of close four-part harmony characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note. Sung since the late 1800s and reaching its peak in Vaudeville during the 1920s and 1930s, the 'Barbershop' style remains today one of the most challenging to sing-- a challenge that members of the Capitol Chordsmen Chorus relish.

"There's nothing quite as satisfying as truly 'ringing' a barbershop chord," said Joshua Oxley, chorus director. (Ringing pertains to the 'overtone' one hears when a barbershop chord is perfectly executed by all four parts). "Barbershop is truly the 'team sport' of the singing world.  The trick is to blend each of the four voice parts specifically and optimally, both in terms of pitch and in volume and vowel-shape, to produce the most-beautiful-sounding chord possible."  

In being a truly American art form, with deep roots in Vaudeville, a barbershop show isn't complete without a good dose of clean, slapstick humor. The Capitol Chordsmen Chorus shows are a combination of theatrical humor blended with the fine art of Barbershop singing.  

"We love to leave the audience laughing one minute, and tugging on emotional heart-strings the next with a soulful ballad."  said Bill Byrd, VP of Music and Performance.   

This year's show, “Haunted Harmonies”, will feature a comedy centering around a Graveyard for Barbershoppers and Barbershop lovers.

The Capitol Chordsmen Chorus has been encouraging the barbershop tradition of quartetting and this years’ show will feature 11 different quartets, all with ties to the chorus.