Sound of Illinois Chorus The
“A Hotbed of Harmony” for 75 Years Story by Tricia Stiller, photos by Carlos T. Miranda
T
he Bloomington Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, formed in the spring of 1942, is one of 33 groups in the Illinois District. Its members were among the original Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA). “We never want to lose barbershop,” explains Jim Waldorf, a chorus member since 1987. “It’s truly an American – one of the few true – American art forms. Indeed. Barbershop singing evolved in much the same way as other forms of music, beginning with groups of men, usually African-American, who would get together Director Terry Ludwig
8
April 2017 — Limited
and improvise different versions of spirituals, folk and popular songs. This created a new style of unaccompanied, close harmony Assistant Director Tim Beutel singing that eventually, at the that’s who Wilson used. So you can say turn of the last century, began to resemble Bloomington made “The Music Man” the what we recognize as barbershop singing great production it is!” today. Speaking of productions, the Sound of Many still visualize barbershop quartets Illinois Chorus has, in recent years, under in the style of the day, with stripped vests, the direction of Terry Ludwig, embraced arm garters and boater hats. “ We’re trying an impressive, theatrical approach to its to get away from that,” laughs Waldorf, musical productions. Recently, at an international competition though he admits that, yes, people still think of the Buffalo Bills, the legendary quartet held in Nashville, the group presented that was featured in Meredith Wilson’s “The musical selections from the Broadway production, “The Civil War,” a musical Music Man.” “I’ll tell you a funny story about that,” written by Gregory Boyd and Frank Waldorf continues. “The Buffalo Bills had Wildhorn. Though they did not win, performed in Bloomington. Coincidentally, they certainly made a powerful impact Meredith Wilson was passing through with their staging that beautifully framed town. He just happened to have lunch the numbers “Brother My Brother” and with (chorus members) Charlie Driver “Tell My Father.” Doug Ferrier, a featured and Glenn Perdue, and he asked if they performer explains: “We depict brothers, had any recommendations for a quartet for on opposite sides, one blue and one gray, this project he was working on. They both who find themselves with each other’s’ lives suggested the Buffalo Bills, and ultimately in their hands. Ultimately, one survives, left