The Barbershop Quartet: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

A bright, buoyant walk through Americana that swings with ease. The piece has the camaraderie and polish of a barbershop ensemble alongside the rhythmic vitality of classic swing, creating music that feels approachable and genuinely fun to play.

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level looking for engaging repertoire that appeals to both performers and audiences. This works especially well for directors who want to program something with genuine musical substance that doesn't take itself too seriously.

• Shape the barbershop voicings with real warmth in the upper woodwinds and lower brass; this isn't novelty unless the harmony sounds intentional and well-balanced.
• Lock the swing feel early in rehearsal by establishing a crisp rhythmic pocket in the rhythm section; the light character depends on precision, not looseness.
• Balance the melody line against the harmonic accompaniment so the quartet quality shines through without drowning out the ensemble texture.
• Lean into dynamic contrast between sections to highlight the architectural shifts between barbershop and swing passages.

Position this in the middle of a concert as a palate cleanser between more substantial works, or use it as a closer to send the audience out smiling. It pairs well with other twentieth-century American repertoire and works as an effective way to showcase ensemble versatility.

• Swing articulation and rhythmic style
• Blend and balance in close-voiced harmony
• Musical phrasing across sustained harmonic passages
• Sectional balance and dialogue between melodic and harmonic voices