Bernie has designed our site to provide a plethora of useful information. You will find a brief history of SPEBSQSA and our chapter, info. on entertainment that we can provide, when and where we meet with verbal directions and a map to Trinity School. The annual show is highlighted, again with map directions. The music therapy program at the Vets hospital is explained. You will find a listing of chapter officers and representatives, a complete roster of all members, and an up to date calendar of events. Chapter quartets are listed with photos (we need more). As a recent addition, Bernie now includes the latest chapter bulletin (text only).
Bernie is constantly striving to improve the site and make it as useful as possible. The latest addition is a members only section similar to that of the main SPEBSQSA site. The contents of the members only area is still under development and Bernie invites your input.
Perhaps one of the most useful features from a reference standpoint is the "links" listing. Reviewing this recently, I clicked over to the link, "Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Barbershop Archives." That is a story in itself, so please refer to the article in this issue by that same name.
Barbershop Archives - by Tom Koch
As bulletin editor, I am always thinking, "...what can I put in the Pitchburgh Press that is of interest to my readers?" Thus I am always looking for reference sources related to barbershopping or things that would interest barbershoppers. Some where in the recesses of my mind I recalled that long time barbershopper, and one time Greater Pittsburgh member, Bob Brandl worked in the Carnegie Library Music & Art Department and over the years compiled reference material about barbershopping. So quite awhile ago I made a personal objective that I must go to the Library and see what Bob has. Of course, I often procrastinate like many others and kept thinking, "some day." Then as I was exploring Bernie Sinwell's links in our chapter web site (see Webmaster article), I found a link that took me directly to the web site of the Carnegie Library, Music & Art Department.
There under a heading of "Barbershop Quartet" you will find the SPEBSQSA logo and the following statement; "The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Music & Art Department serves as the main Barbershop music resources center for the Rome Division of the Johnny Appleseed District of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA). That was it, I had to stop stalling and get down to the Library and see just what Bob Brandl has compiled. On Wednesday, Oct 8th I met Bob at the Music & Art Department and he proceeded to give me a very interesting tour of the library resources. There is an entire room of books pertaining to music and many relate to barbershop singing. A sample of the better ones are listed in the web site. Also, as highlighted in the web site, the department maintains selected recordings of barbershop quartets and choruses, and selected anthologies of printed music. The department owns sheet music to approximately 850 popular songs arranged for barbershop quartets. There is a music information file that contains magazine articles and newspaper clippings about local ensembles and information about SPEBSQSA. One of Bob Brandl's greatest achievements is the Fifty Year Harmonizer index to the libraries Harmonizer collection which starts at Volume One, 1941 and is complete to present day.
Bob introduced me to Kathy Logan, the head of the Music & Art Department and to the webmistriss. I showed Kathy how the Greater Pittsburgh web site links to the library web site. She thought this very interesting and indicated that she may link the library site to ours (it already links to the JAD and SPEBSQSA web sites).