Thanks to jimmyt for the musical/technical explanation. I've known for a long time that "barbershop"-style harmony is called "close harmony," but I've never gotten a handle on it, neither technically nor instinctivley. That is, I can't join in and sing a fitting harmony like I usually can in other styles.

GUEST Dave Roberts pointed out something else I agree with -- barbershop's corny old-fashioned-ness seems to hail back to an imaginary, phony past -- not a real one. I like many kinds of music, modern and ancient and in-between, but my lack of enthusiasm for much barbershop may be partially explained by the fact that it does *not* really represent an authentic past era.

That said, while I've never gone out of my way to attend a barbershop performance, I have stumbled upon an occasional live performance (always a large chorus, not a quartet, for some reason) and been duly impressed. I suppose that I'm capable of enjoying almost any genre of music if it's (a) live and (b) well done.