What’s A Cappella

A Cappella is Italian, it literally means “in the manner of the church.” It originated from medieval European churches as a form of choir singing without accompanying any musical instrument. It was intended for praising God through pure vocal performance by medieval churches. Later, a cappella gradually took on the meaning of ‘pure vocal performance,’ and it can be performed across different music genre.
Now, Taiwan uses the transliteration of a cappella, and the term is used loosely to coin music performed by using parts of a human body without accompanying any musical instrument.

A Cappella

In the sixteenth century, songs for the people are called secular music, and songs for the church are called sacred music. The term ‘a cappella’ originated in Italy. ‘A’ means ‘at’ and ‘cappella’ means ‘singing at church.’ Music in the church must be music from the Holy Scripture. Taking ‘sound from the church’ and transforming it into lyrics, and since the song and its main melody are very pleasant, even secular music adopted some of them with modified lyrics and added accompaniment. Since there was no chorus written for them, church tunes were still used as a result. Later, in order to distinguish between the two, music performed inside the church is called ‘a cappella,’ and those performed outside of church are called ‘concertato.’ There are two ways to perform a song. The names are still used even today, and generally speaking, music without instrument, but with harmony, is called a cappella.

Contemporary A Cappella

A cappella music you hear nowadays has added the mimicking of music instruments and drums. We call it contemporary a cappella. Since it is no longer the music type that it once was in the sixteenth century, we call it contemporary a cappella or more specifically, ‘vocal singing band.’
A cappella can be pure vocal singing without instruments or a melody. It is still mostly without instruments. Why does having accompanying instrument matter? For example, piano is an instrument with a melody, and hence it will generate a pitch. While singing, the singer can use the pitch from the piano as a reference. But once the piano is taken out, it will not be easy to keep the right pitch. Therefore, singing a cappella is not an easy feat.

		Miss Yang says： So a cappella originally means a form of church music. It is performed through singing with rhythm-less instruments. Hence a cappella does not have to be music without instruments!

Source：
1.Ministry of Education Digital Teaching Resource Portal https://isp.moe.edu.tw/
2.Teacher Sean Yang, Teacher Ming Lin through music classes
3.Teacher Allegro, Teacher Iris Chen through interviews, researched by the Beautiful Voices

Types of Band

【A Cappella Band】
Whether it’s unaccompanied singing or modern-day a cappella, as long as the group is performing an a cappella style music, we will call it an a cappella band.
【A Cappella Vocal Band】
Groups that specialize in pop, jazz, rock and roll, or hip hop are called a cappella vocal band. Their special feature is using performers’ voices to imitate the beat of a drum, bass, or other types of music instruments. Our topic research will focus on a cappella vocal band as well!

		Teacher Allegro says： ‘Vocal Percussion’ is not required by all a cappella groups. It is added to modern-day a cappella In order to enrich the scope of their performances. With the use of Beatbox and microphones, a cappella performances have gradually transformed into the ones that we see commonly in modern-days.

Source：
1.Ministry of Education Digital Teaching Resource Portal https://isp.moe.edu.tw/
2.Teacher Allegro through interviews, researched by the Beautiful Voices

Parts of an A Cappella Vocal Band

Number of participants: at least one, there is no maximum restriction
Voice: Solo+ chorus (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone) + Bass + Vocal Percussion

		Teacher Allegro says： Solo, Bass, Voice Percussion are best performed by one single individual. The performer will have the freedom to mix the three parts at his or her discretion. If these three parts are performed by different individuals, then special attention must be paid to see how well their voices complement each other. Harmonization can be done by multiple performers to add depth to it. We must pay attention to voices singing in the same part should have the same timbre, and different parts should complement each other as well!

		Miss Yang says： A cappella vocal parts can be divided into Solo, Harmony, Bass, and Vocal Percussion. However, we can still adjust them according to the music. Not every group or song is required to have all these vocal parts!

Source：
1.Ministry of Education Digital Teaching Resource Portal https://isp.moe.edu.tw/
2.Taiwan Choral Music Center http://www.tcmc.org.tw
3.Literature: Quick Guide to Learning A Cappella by Teacher Allegro
4.Teacher Sean, Yang through music classes
5.Teacher Allegro through interviews, researched by the Beautiful Voices

Evolution of A Cappella

• 【13th, 14th Century】：People started calling pure vocal music ‘A Cappella’
• 【16th Century】：The term is used to coin choir singing without accompanying music instruments
• 【17th, 18th Century】：Three people vocal singing, known as ‘Glee Club,’ or four people vocal singing, known as ‘Part Songs,’ started to gain popularity in England.
• 【19th Century】：Glee Club gained popularity in American schools.
• 【20th Century】：Modern version started to take form. With jazz, pop, or rock and roll flavor in the music, microphone was also used in the performances. Since these types of music contain drumming rhythm and bass sound effects, they are also called ‘Vocal Bands.’
• 【21st Century】：In 2001, Taiwan Choral Center held the first Taiwan A Cappella Competition, opening up a new era for a cappella in Taiwan.

Source：
1.Ministry of Education Digital Teaching Resource Portal https://isp.moe.edu.tw/
2.Teacher Allegro through interviews, researched by the Beautiful Voices

Source: the Beautiful Voices｜Photo：HanGuang Vocal Band／ the Beautiful Voices