I’ve just been listening to one of my favourites: Ockeghem’s 36 part Deo Gratias. It’s a beautifully mesmerising piece.
Thomas Tallis, Spem in alium, motet for 40 voices.
Anything byTake 6, especially their version of Amazing Grace. Also the Flower Duet from Lakme. Most people have heard some of it in British Airways commercials.
Hey wait-- music is playing during The Flower Duet, so scratch that.
Jetzt ist Sommer - Die Wise Guys.
Actually I like quite a bit from them, They do a lot of fun stuff. They did an opening to Futurama (the “human horn” episode I think), a cover of the gummy bears theme, and an a Capella techno song (yes, you can do that, F-word warning).
Die Prinzen also do a lot of a Capella stuff, but the have a lot more instruments and I can’t think of any example off hand.
Why yes, the only a Capella band I know of are, indeed, German, why do you ask?
No one has mentioned The Kings Singers? :eek: The most amazing pure sound ever. www.kingssingers.com
Here’s a link to them singing Danny Boy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEYdoNRWw9I
This. I have the 4AD albums. There’s also some nice similar stuff on the soundtrack for Time of the Gypsies.
Also, The Housemartins, Caravan of Love.
THANK YOU for posting that link. I’d heard of throat singing when following some links on Wikipedia (had looked up “Tuva”) but I never found an online recording that illustrated it. I was certain, when the singing first started on the first link, that there was some electronic device making the sound… but there isn’t!
Happy to help a fellow throat-seeker! Hun Huur Tu is good if you’re looking for the more authentic, traditional form. David Hykes’s interpretation blends in some Tibetan/Tantric forms for some really mind-blowing effects.
I am posting from my phone, so forgive any weirdness in spacing and spelling. I have just decided that I really love throat singing now! Very interesting art.
My favorite a Capella song is One by One from the Lion King play. I actually liked The Lioness Hunt better, but that one has some kind of percussions going on.
I also love the girl with the dreadlocks that lives downstairs from me singing Ave Maria as we clean our apartments on Sunday mornings.
I’ve always wondered about throat singing since I read Tuva or Bust about Richard Feynman. Thanks for the link.
Dammit. Beat me to it.
Here’s an oldie: Judy Collins’ Amazing Grace http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=judy+collins+amazing+grace+acapella&search_type=&aq=f
Love, Phil
The Cowboy Junkies have a great on The Trinity Sessions called “Mining For Gold”.
I love her voice.
Ditto from me.
I was just listening today to my Take 6 album.
With more than 650 a capella songs in my iTunes, I would have to say I’m a fan. And if you are interested in such, you need to know Primarily A Capella with hundreds of CDs, music scores, etc.
Plus there are many, many full songs you can listen to, not just snippits.
For the record, I have no financial ties or arrangements with this fine site — other than the money I have spent there over the years.
Some of my favorites:
The Real Group A Swedish outfit that many believe are the best in the world. Their classic "A Capella in Acapulco features vocal instrumentation so smooth and rich you would swear there’s a band behind them. It is superb.
The Blenders Their stuff can be as smooth as the name implies, and they hit complex chords and progressions effortlessly. A particular favorite is their Christmas album, “Nog,” which has both originals and classics, with a smooth jazz feel and some humorous bits.
And, rare but worth the hunt, a feminine trio known as Yagottawanna. AFAIK, they only produced two compilations. I have one on cassette that has both gorgeous ballads and the hilarious “Chat With Your Mother.”
Subcategories in a capella include
Vocal Jazz
Choral
Contemporary
Barbershop
Christian
Collegiate
World
Doo Wop
Vintage Harmony (think Four Freshmen, The Hi-Los, the Maguire Sisters)
And, should you ever have the chance, attend one of the regional or national competitions in the Harmony Sweepstakes.
Dive in - you’ll love the sound.
I might also recommend Do it A Cappella.
Go ahead and point and laugh: I attended a Michael Buble concert in The Pond this past spring, and he had this group opening for him.
Astounding.
Of course, Take 6 has always been awesome – it’s the Gene Puerling-as-mentor magic going there.
And for me, the gold standard of an a capella performance is right here.
Well… I found this thread while searching for an unrelated music. And I generally love songs a capella.
It’s the middle of the night, here, and now, I’ll have to review everything you posted here, instead of sleeping. Thanks a lot. :mad:
Me, too! It was a great show, but my favorite part was Rockapella singing.
Sure it’s already been said, but you can’t beat Billy Joel’s For the Longest Time