A CAPPELLA Definition & Meaning

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a cappella

[ ah kuh-pel-uh; Italian ah kahp-pel-lah ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

Music.

Sometimes acappella. without instrumental accompaniment.
in the style of church or chapel music.

a cappella

/ ɑː kəˈpɛlə /

adjective

music without instrumental accompaniment

a cappella

Choral singing performed without instruments. The expression means “in chapel style” in Italian. Centuries ago, religious music composed for use in chapels — which, unlike large churches , had no organs — was usually for voices only.

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of a cappella¹

First recorded in 1875–80; from Italian: literally, “in the manner of a chapel (choir)”

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of a cappella¹

Italian: literally, according to (the style of the) chapel

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Example Sentences

While still at school, Marianne began singing folk songs a cappella in Reading coffee-houses - and, before long, her exquisite looks and obvious talent saw her sucked into the vortex of Swinging 60s London.

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She encouraged everyone in the room to participate as she sang “America the Beautiful” entirely a cappella.

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The crowd in the rotunda joined her in signing an a cappella version of America the Beautiful that ended with applause.

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With the help of backing vocals from the Armed Forces Choir and the inauguration audience, Underwood sang "America the Beautiful" a cappella.

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“Coming Back to Life” starts more or less a cappella, so it’s got to be spot-on.

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