Indiana Harmony Brigade

Want to do some high powered quartetting? Harmony Brigade looks like the answer. I guess I was aware of them, but until I saw a few of them in action last night I'm not sure what I thought of them. It looks like tremendous fun! A lot of work, but fun none the less!

Here's a copy of the FAQs from their web site.

Who are "Brigaders"?

Brigaders are Society members dedicated to Extreme Quartetting.freelance quartetting of high quality arrangements made famous by medalist-level quartets. We coordinate music choices Brigade-to- Brigade so that Brigaders from anywhere have a large common repertoire with other Brigaders. We gather at annual Brigade Rallies to pursue Extreme Quartetting. We commit to, and fulfill, the preparation this activity requires.

What's a "Brigade Rally"?

Members of Brigades and prospective-member guests gather annually for Brigade Rally weekends. The 10 to 12-song repertoire for each Rally is selected roughly six months in advance. Sheet music and a professionally recorded learning CD are sent out after a registration is received.

How can I register for a Rally?

Brigade Rally attendance is by invitation only. A Brigade Member who knows both your quartetting ability and your preparation capacity may nominate you to be a guest. Brigade participation is not a woodshed activity, not an average chorus-member activity and not a ride-my- credentials activity. When it comes to Extreme Quartetting, full preparation is everything ... and it's the only way to Brigade Membership.

How are music arrangements selected?

Brigade music teams select combinations of new and old favorites, share their choices with the other Brigades and intentionally create overlapping repertoire. A cornerstone of the Brigade movement is that all Brigaders know a large and expanding number of arrangements in common.plenty of opportunities to enjoy Extreme Quartetting anytime with any Brigaders.

How many Brigades are there?

Currently there are five Brigades dedicated to Extreme Quartetting:

North Carolina Harmony Brigade
next Rally January 2011, Southern Pines, NC

Great Lakes Harmony Brigade
charter Rally June 4-5, 2010, Lansing, MI

Harmony University eXtreme Quartetting Brigade
next Rally ... TBD ... July 31 - August 1, 2010 cancelled

Atlantic Harmony Brigade
next Rally August 20-22, 2010, Wilmington, DE

Indiana Harmony Brigade
next Rally November 12-14, 2010, Indianapolis, IN

Do Brigade Members have to reside in particular states, provinces or districts?
No. Brigades are named for their rally locations, not for territorial constraints. It's common to have attendees from over a dozen states and provinces.