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5/14/08 ref from CASA This Week In A Cappella


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Barbershop singers say it takes a group effort

By <mailto:rrutkoski@...>Rex Rutkoski
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Thursday, May 1, 2008

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Tom Crytzer grew up listening to barbershop music in his sleep.

The veteran member of the Alle-Kiski Valley Barbershop Showtime Chorus means
that literally.

His dad, Layton "Rusty" Crytzer of Natrona Heights, used to practice in the
basement with several quartets.

"I used to hear the sound of their singing coming up through the floor registers
into my bedroom at night," Crytzer says.

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Crytzer considers it a blessing that he discovered the singular American art
form early and can still share it with his father, who has been singing for 55
years.

Rusty Crytzer is the long-time conductor of the chorus but this year will sing,
as Dennis Beck of Allegheny Township takes the baton for the 52nd annual Parade
of Harmony Saturday at Valley High School.

Two quartets -- Razzmatazz from Lancaster and Double Dare from Pennsylvania and
Ohio -- also will be on a bill that celebrates the unaccompanied human voice.

"Between the chorus and our two guest quartets, people can expect to be
entertained by quality barbershop harmony and a healthy dose of comedy," Tom
Crytzer says. "It really should make for an entertaining afternoon."

Beck, who also is show chairman, is looking forward to it.

"We have worked hard for almost a year learning new music and bringing back some
older songs from years ago," he says.

Tom Crytzer believes the chorus gives its best performances when it is able to
establish a rapport with the audience.

"When we can see that the audience is enjoying itself, we relax and enjoy
ourselves, too," he says. "The audience and chorus sort of feed off each other,
which makes for an enjoyable performance for everyone, and that can be quite
fun."

Laughter is the hallmark of Razzmatazz, which is observing its 20th anniversary
and returning for the third time on a Parade of Harmony bill.

"We enjoy singing and making people laugh," member Don McElroy says. "This is
about the best free therapy one could hope for."

Double Dare is an all-female quartet that offers its own blend of harmony with a
touch of humor. Member Sandy Wright says a cappella is music in its purest form,
with no instruments overshadowing the voices.

"While the challenge of singing 'naked' can be quite scary to the singers, there
is no bigger thrill than ringing a chord," she says. 'We'd like to think that
we're helping to preserve this awesome American art form. We've taken something
that our grandmothers and grandfathers used to do and added touches that make it
more to our audiences' liking, without losing the basics of four-part a cappella
harmony."

Rex Rutkoski can be reached at
<mailto:rrutkoski@...>rrutkoski@... or 724-226-4664.
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