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There are prob'ly as many spellings of the word (phrase) 'a cappella'
as there are opinions of what "defines" the music. The excerpt below
is abridged from a page I found floating around on the internet:
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A Cappella, Acappella, Acapella, A Capella, Acapella or A Capela?
Some musical dictionaries indicate the Italian a cappella is preferred
over the Latin a capella (one "p") yet both are technically correct.
Why do those dictionaries muddy the waters with two spellings?
The phrase was first used in Italian Catholic churches, where Latin
was the language for sacred text. Thus, the Latin spelling for 'in the
style of the chapel' - a capella - has some historical basis. However,
most other musical terms - forte, accelerando, and many others - are
Italian in origin. Since the Italian spelling is more consistent with
other musical terms, it has been used more frequently... two words, two
'p's, two 'l's.
Musicologists have fun debating the extent to which a cappella, "in the
style of the chapel," can include instrumental accompaniment. Some argue
that early sacred a cappella performances would sometimes include
instruments that double a human voice part. So, the correct definition
of a cappella should be something like "singing without independent
instrumental accompaniment."
I tend to defer to the consensus and use 'a cappella' most frequently
but I will occasionally run it together (acappella) if I think it looks
better that way in context (copping out to "artistic license")
As for what defines Collectively Kenny's music as "a cappella": I think
we're all purists (or snobs, if you will =) at heart. Our goal is the
best sound we can achieve with no instruments other than our voices.
I'll go so far as trying to keep vocal percussion out of an arrangement
if I can make it rhythmically interesting enough without it. Though
subject to some debate within the group... 'extras' like shakers, claves,
tambourines, and any other handheld rhythm "instruments" are strictly
avoided except as an absolute LAST resort.
Ultimately, though, we ALL agree: It's all about the music. We choose
songs we enjoy and that we think our audience will enjoy as well. If
it takes a little more than snaps, claps, and vocal percussion to make
a song that we REEEALLY want to sing sound the way we REEEALLY want it
to sound, I imagine we're not beyond blurring the lines a bit. It IS
-after all- a cappella, which by its very nature seems to be subject
to interpretation.
Old Friends
Southern California is kinda like Small Town, USA when it comes to singin'
in an acappella group. Seems if you stay with it long enough, you cross
paths with the same folks over and over.
Collectively, the 5 of us have spent the better part of sixty years singing...
and we've sung with some pretty talented folks along the way. This is just a
little tribute to any of the folks we've ever shared a stage with, doin' what
we love to do - SING:
Sean Altman, Ariana Attie, Rebecca Brewer, Ron Browne, Bonnie Carlton,
Dean Carlton, Linda Cicino, Bruce Cooper, Colleen Cowley, Sheldon Disrud, Mike
Economou, Scott Fredrickson, Sharon Galassi, Pat Gaston, Mimi Gaudette, Michael
Geiger, Eva Gleason, Keith Hancock, Aileen (Hanlon) Hawkins, Diane Johnson,
Marilyn King, Tom Knox, Marcia (Weiller) Kohl, Kenny Kurtz, Art LaPierre,
Carolyn Leenerts, MaryAnn Leonard, Diane Mawhinney, Kate Mullins, Jody New,
Debbie Reeder, Tim Reeder, Gabriella Rollins, Chris Rose, Kari Sabo, Steve Sabo,
Dalyn Sale-Whaley, Jim Schamp, Geoff Schultz, Mary Shea, Theresa Twilley, Mishel
VandeKamp, Willem Van der Pol, Glenn Wanke, Jay Welch, Melina Wood...
Thanks, Everybody... it's been AMAZING!
