The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #76707 Message #1365755
Posted By: BB
28-Dec-04 - 06:44 AM
Thread Name: Best harmony singers
Subject: RE: Best harmony singers
Parts of England did/do traditionally sing in harmony - I learnt my style of harmony singing from traditional singing in Cornwall many years ago, and it still goes on there. Came out of the chapel singing I believe.
I think part of the problem with harmonies detracting from the songs themselves is that many of the harmonies used are not sympathetic to the melodies but seem to be used because they sound clever. Where harmonies are found in the tradition, they tend to be kept quite simple, and their use seems to emphasise rather than detract from the melodies. Even in the carol traditions, the lines may be staggered, and end up sounding quite complex, but the harmonies themselves are very basic.
John C. may be correct in saying that harmony singing can 'smooth out' melodies - 'Pleasant and Delightful' for instance has a tune that differs greatly between, say, the East Anglian one, where there is no tradition of harmony singing AFAIK, and the West Country one which does - but I don't think either is better or worse, just different, and long may those regional differences remain.
As for those archetypal (sp?) chorus singers - they're just bad singers - don't blame the style. I have many times heard wonderful chorus singing - with harmonies - that rattles along at a fair old rate, entirely following the way the lead singer wants it to go. When I have come across what John describes above, it has tended to be sheer self-indulgence, late at night after large amounts of booze - and you're right, it's dreadful!
Barbara