What does it mean to sing a Capella

The expression "to sing a Capella" came from the music lovers recently. It comes from the term "sing a Cappella", that is, to perform vocal music without instrumental accompaniment. This kind of singing has been around for centuries, since the first "tool" that has learnt to possess people – this is the voice.

When did the term

Despite the fact that singing without musical accompaniment emerged at the dawn of human history, the term a capella appeared in the XVII century. Literally translated, it means "as in chapel", that is, as during the Catholic services. Originally the term was applied predominantly in relation to choral singing, but now it means any performance of vocal music without accompaniment. Singing a Cappella can a small vocal group or a soloist.

Singing a Cappella in Church music

A Cappella singing was widely used during worship in the early Catholic and Orthodox churches. In the future (around the VII century) Catholics began to use the organ and other musical instruments. In the Orthodox Church to this day the choir and soloists singing without accompaniment of any musical instrument. Polyphonic way of singing a Cappella was formed at the end of the middle Ages. Sacred works for chorus were written by such famous composers as Palestrina and Scarlatti, as well as Lasso and other musicians from the Dutch school. In Russia singing a Cappella became the basis for the emergence and development of the unique phenomenon - partes concert.

Singing a Cappella in secular art

Singing without instrumental accompaniment was popular not only in churches but in the secular salons. One of the most famous genres of a Cappella singing was the Madrigal. As a spiritual and secular a Cappella music in the West sometimes used a solo instrument. It was usually a violin or the General bass. Russian composers tool was not administered.

Singing without the instrument in folk music

A Cappella singing is an essential part of European folk culture. Examples of folk songs which are sung without accompaniment and even solo instrument is practically at all peoples. Such songs could be monophonic or polyphonic, depending on the genre and traditions.

A Cappella singing in contemporary culture

This kind of singing in Russia has now reached the greatest prosperity in the beginning of the last century. For choir unaccompanied, wrote Rachmaninov, Taneyev, Sviridov, Shebalin and many other prominent composers. Academic singing a Cappella sounds in churches and concert halls. Singing without accompaniment is a mandatory part of the curriculum of singers and conductors of Gorovikov. To learn this art in a specialized school and in the Church choir. In recent years, singing without accompaniment has become extremely popular among young people, as sharply increased interest in various folk cultures.