Heidelberg Quintet

The Heidelberg Quintet (or “Quintette,” on Victor) was a short-lived but non-etheless outstanding barbershop-styled vocal group that recorded for Victor and Edison from 1912 to 1914. The group was simply the identical to the American Quartet, except that countertenor Will Oakland was put into take some specifically high parts that helped supply the Heidelberg its distinct sound. The Heidelberg Quintet’s agreements were created by composer George L. Botsford, who was simply responsible for composing such ragtime requirements as “The Grizzly Carry” and “Monochrome Rag.” With one of these and other components set up, the Heidelberg Quintet information stay positive, upbeat, syncopated, and contemporary-sounding for his or her day, instead of the greater maudlin, sentimental fare common on pop vocal information of the period. Besides Oakland, the performers within the Heidelberg Quintet included tenors Billy Murray and John H. Bieling, baritone Steve Porter, and bass William F. Hooley. In Sept 1913, John H. Bieling retired from performing and was changed by tenor Robert D. Armour, who also assumed Bieling’s put in place the American Quartet. Armour was changed again within the American Quartet in middle-1915 by tenor John Youthful, but by that point the Heidelberg Quintet experienced already ceased documenting for good.