cappella

Cappella, usually written a cappella, denotes vocal music performed without instrumental accompaniment. The term applies to solo singing as well as unaccompanied vocal ensembles, from chamber choirs to contemporary groups that rely on voices for rhythm, harmony, and texture.

The phrase is borrowed from Italian, where cappella (with two p) means chapel. A cappella literally translates to "in the chapel style" and historically signified music performed in church spaces without instruments.

Unaccompanied vocal singing has roots in medieval and Renaissance church music, where choirs and monasteries trained singers in polyphony and chant. In later centuries, it persisted in secular madrigals, glee clubs, barbershop, and folk traditions, and it experienced a modern revival in concert and pop contexts.

Performance practice emphasizes vocal blend, accurate intonation, and rhythmic precision. Singers use consonants and vowels deliberately to project text, with dynamic shaping and phrasing that compensate for the absence of instruments. Some groups incorporate beatboxing or vocal percussion.

In contemporary music, a cappella is common in choral concerts, school programs, and recording projects. Notable examples include professional ensembles like the King's Singers and Take 6, as well as popular contemporary groups such as Pentatonix, which helped broaden the genre's audience.