A cappella

A cappella (. Abbreviation a c ) refers to:

• In the era from the late 16th century, a compositional method for polyphonic church vocal ensembles with optional instrumental accompaniment
• From 19th-century choral music without instrumental accompaniment
• A genre of popular music, in which a close-harmony vocal ensemble occurs without or with minimal instrumental accompaniment
• A part of a musical piece of pop music in which suspends the instrumental accompaniment

Original meaning

The term a cappella leans to the Italian alla cappella music, and originally meant " in the manner of the chapel ".

First one understood including polyphonic vocal music, in which the choir is accompanied by musical instruments and the instruments play exactly ( Colla parte) what the voices are singing.

"A cappella (Italian ) heißet: if vocal and instrumental voices together at the same time and that can be, in such a way to hear that this precisely that which those who execute. "

"A capella, alla capella, i.e. Kapellstile, in older church music means the movement of the voices without instruments, or if indeed such accompany the singing, the going away of the instruments in unison with the voices. "

This means a performance practice of vocal music that could be represented variable. If possible, the conductor pulled existing instruments added during the performance. The instruments were able to double the vocal parts or replace.

The performance practice of the Sistine chapel in the 18th century presented a special case:

" Meanwhile, in them is distinguished from other the Papal Music that dabey you no organ or other instruments brauchet, but the pieces only hersinget. "

Importance in the 19th century

With the rediscovery of the ancient choral music in the 19th century by amateur choirs, there was a misunderstanding of the term a cappella, from which resulted in a change of meaning: now in common usage, including a music was understood that does not use any instruments and alone in the human voice is based.

Importance in the 20th century

Classical music

In the broad masses of traditional choirs, the understanding of a cappella has largely manifested as unaccompanied music. Due to the greater weight of the knowledge of historical performance practice in the study of music is at least the professional musicians aware of the original meaning. Choirs and church choirs, now note a historical performance practice, to move to her old performances of choral music in Cappellstil again increasingly instruments added.

Popular music

At the beginning of the 20th century originated in the U.S., a new genre of vocal small groups ( such as The Yale Whiffenpoofs 1909). It was sung in the barbershop style in close harmony. 1927 emerged after the American model of The Revelers in Germany, the Comedian Harmonists. While they were singing with piano accompaniment, encouraged by their popularity but the purely vocal music genre. Other influences took the a cappella music from the doo wop of the 1950s. One of the first a- cappella singing girl groups was the quartet The Chordettes ( best known hit was 1954 Mister Sandman [ Bring me a Dream ] ).

So popular a cappella music is now performed mainly by modern vocal ensembles with four to six people. In addition to many all-male and mixed ensembles, there are few all-female bands, such as Aqua Bella, medlz, Niniwe. As a song - material has a special cover versions of songs from the pop and rock area are used to, which are arranged without instruments. On the other specially written and arranged songs are used.

In the arrangements, the individual voices can equal footing with each other in melody and lyrics. Frequently, however, one or more voices take over the lead vocal in terms of a solo voice or a lead vocal, while the other voices provide the accompaniment. Here mimic the individual voices, often reinforced by electronic means and studio technology, individual instruments by - especially the drums by vocal percussion or beatboxing, sometimes by hand clapping or finger snapping. Chance of use A cappella groups also Eggshaker for rhythmic accompaniment. Because of these different tasks, there are at A cappella groups, the classical division in melody and rhythm section.

Since 1997, the International Festival of Vocal Music " a cappella " will be held in Leipzig every year, within the framework of a competition also encourages young ensembles since 2007. Other important competitions for a cappella ensembles are culturally in German-speaking inter alia, the International A Cappella Competition in Graz, the A Cappella Award in Ulm and the prize youth.