CONTEXT

I was singing in a Barbershop Quartet and became intrigued with the discovery that as soon as the members of the quartet were willing to work together and blend with each other the 4 voices made anywhere from 5 to 6 tones. That meant that in cooperation and teamwork the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. At that point I took it upon myself to learn all 4 parts to HEART OF MY HEART, a classic Barbershop love song. It is traditionally sung at Valentines Day, but is sung at many other occasions. I went to a local recording studio, expanded on the above context, recorded a contextual statement and proceeded to record each part of the song—Lead; Bass; Baritone, and; Tenor.

Once I had made the separate recordings the studio technician put all 5 together on one tape. That means I now have my own quartet. Problem is there isn’t much market for a one-man quartet!

Quartet_Intro.mp3: HEART OF MY HEART with David Zahrt as a quartet 

As time wore on I came upon my 63rd year. I approached the quartet with which I was singing and asked them if they would spend the time to learn the Beatles’ WHEN I’M 64? If they were wiling to do that I could sing WHEN I’M 64, when I’m 64. They were not willing to undertake the project. Having already put one quartet of my own together I learned all 4 parts, returned to the studio, and recorded WHEN I’M 64.

When_Im_64.mp3: WHEN I’M 64 with David Zahrt as a quartet

I am an avid bicycle rider. I even purchased an old tandem single-speed bicycle and retrofitted it with spare parts to a 6-speed. The 4th of July Parade traditionally held in Whiting, IA prompted another notion of quartet singing. I found a second tandem bicycle, had the two of them fitted together, and prepared to have the quartet in which I was singing ride and sing in the Parade. Once again I suggested that we learn a song: Daisy Bell. Once again the quartet was unwilling to put the necessary work into learning it. Having already put two quartets of my own together I learned all 4 parts, returned to the studio.

Daisy_Bell.mp3: DAISY BELL with David Zahrt as a quartet

• David Z's barbershop quartet on bicycle built for four