Music, Migration, and Cultural Membership in Close Harmony — American Music

Claims

1. quartet-origins
   Close-harmony vocal groups became a popular ensemble configuration at the turn of the twentieth century. African American quartets were well established by 1890 and provided models for white quartets; following Gage Averill, García Corona notes that nineteenth-century African American close-harmony ensembles transformed European close-harmony performance practice and style.

   "At the turn of the twentieth century, vocal groups featuring close harmonies emerged as a popular musical ensemble configuration. ... African American quartets were well established by 1890 and regularly headlined performances featuring close-harmony aesthetics, providing models for white quartets. As Gage Averill shows in Four Parts, No Waiting, African American close-harmony ensembles of the nineteenth century, both professional and amateur, transformed European close-harmony performance practice and style."

   Locator: page: 327 · Quote language: en