Sound and Timbre - Types of A Cappella

What is A Cappella?

A Cappella is a group or solo singing without instrumental accompaniment.

1. Religious A Cappella
It was formed because instruments were forbidden in worship in both Judeo-Christian an the Islamic tradition, so they could only use their voices to chant. It then became popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s with the release of the album "Chant" by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos.

2. Barbershop A Cappella 

This form of A Cappella is characterised by its taunt, consonant four-part harmonies and ringing overtones.
The roles of the four parts are:

·         The lead sings the melody.

·         The tenor harmonizes above the melody.

·         The bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes.

·         The baritone completes the chord, usually below the lead.

Some famous quartets are:

·The Buffalo Bills

·The Singing Senators

·The Dapper Dans

3. Pop music A Cappella

It began when Bands like the Persuasions and Manhattan Transfer brought A Cappella elements closer to the center of pop music. 

An example of this form of A Cappella is Boyz II Men's "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday", which became an enormous hit in 1991 and remained on the Billboard charts for 133 weeks

4. Collegiate A Cappella
This form of A Cappella is  also known as ensembles. They are student-run and directed singing groups. Such groups could be found at many colleges and universities in the United States and are increasing worldwide. 

      
Some famous groups are:

·RPI Glee Club – perhaps the world’s earliest group

·The Whiffenpoofs of Yale University – perhaps the longest-continuously singing group