A cappella

In the early years of slavery, slave owners prohibited the usage of drums by the African slaves, which meant that the spiritual songs were originally monophonic and a cappella (AuthenticH). Some slaves sang outside churches, and if allowed, throughout their work days. As time passed the African Spirituals took on another job, they became a coding system for escaping slaves. The Underground Railroad was the term used to…

Someone once said that where words fall short, music takes the lead. That has been proven all throughout history. In the 20th century especially, our world was changed drastically without notice on many occasions. The people divided in the world when Pete Seeger sang We Shall Overcome, began to sing with him in hopes of finding peace in the world. The Government and people the same have used song as propaganda to express their point of view, misery, and determination throughout the 20th century.…

composition has a single melodic line throughout. This song also has a strong and quick beat to it because it is a medieval dance piece. The piece from the Renaissance, Pope Marcellus Mass: Kyrie, has a polyphonic texture. This piece is for an a cappella choir consisting of soprano, alto, two tenors, and two bases. The voices all flow together at the end of each section and has a very full sound. These two pieces are very different from each other and can show the differences in music between…

on October 26, 1685. A brilliant musician at an early age, Scarlatti followed in the compositional footsteps of his father, Alessandro Scarlatti. In 1708, Scarlatti moved to Rome to become maestro di cappella to the exiled queen of Poland, Maria Casimira. He later became head of the Cappella Giulia, the choir of St. Peter’s Basilica that sings for all solemn functions of the Vatican. While in Rome, Scarlatti composed many of his operas and serenatas. During his tenure in Rome, Scarlatti…

This Jungle Book Mashup Will Blow You Away The Jungle Book is an extremely popular creation. Whether you are talking about the classic book, the brand new movie or the cartoon version, its popularity is one of the largest in the world. One of the best parts about The Jungle Book cartoon movie is the fantastic music that was created. But, as fantastic the music is, The Piano Guys have made it even better. In this mashup, you get to hear them play the fabulous music from the movies in a way you…

is a small device used to provide a pitch reference for musicians or singers. The common vocal pitch pipes are circular and made of metal, usually brass and are known as a free reed aerophone. This product is a great fit because Pentatonix is an a cappella group, so perfect pitch is the backbone of this group. This merchandise covers a serious note for those fans that love the band and can sing, and those that see it as a perfect collectors item. The pitch pipes would come in three different…

The first piece performed by the American Symphony Orchestra was “Alleluia” by Randall Thompson. “Alleluia” was performed by a cappella chorus and lasted approximately 6 minutes with no instruments involved. There was a large chorus dressed in black; the men had on bow ties and suits. The Chorus sung perfectly and in sync together with the conductor’s moves. As the conductor would make his gestures the chorus would follow and move their heads with the tone of their voices. The chorus increased…

snow to sing chilling traditional Christmas songs at the beginning of both acts. Much time is spent in Fezziwig’s party, fast-paced dance music providing a contrast to the slow deterioration of Scrooge’s love life. The play concludes with an a cappella solo of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” by Tiny Tim, joined by the remainder of the cast for a hearty conclusion. Such music added Christmassy feel to the play, not underemphasized but most welcome. A Christmas Carol suffers in some areas from…

Jonsson Performance Hall titled “A Renaissance Faire.” They held showings October 28th & 29th from 8 PM to 9:30 PM. The show featured the UT Dallas Chamber Singers and students from Advanced Vocal Instruction. The concert singers preformed mainly a cappella, but they were also accompanied by accompanist Michael McVay, who played an electronic piano modified to sound like a lute. Kathryn Evans, the conductor, also accompanied the choir on stage. A distinct characteristic of the show was that…

Half way through the set he stopped and asked that everyone put their phones away. He put down his guitar, stepped away from the microphone, and began singing “The Parting Glass.” The mood in the room changed, everyone stilled and listened to the a cappella rendering of the Irish folk song fill the room without the help of a microphone. he finished and said “Cool,” giving the audience permission to applaud. The show went on as it had before,the audience as much a part of the performance as…