Body Percussion
For the uninitiated, it can be difficult to understand why people love a cappella. Heck, even for those of us who do actively enjoy it, it can be difficult to put into words why we enjoy this art form so. While we’ll never have a truly comprehensive list of everything cool about a cappella, 200 Reasons to Love A Cappella is our best attempt at assembling a list of what makes it great.
Reason #78: Body Percussion
Though a cappella is primarily about vocals, one of the coolest effects a group can add without turning to actual instrumentation is the use of body percussion—clapping, stomping, pounding one’s chest. The use of such effects not only adds a unique texture and power to the percussion, but also present a really cool visual to the audience, giving an a cappella performance a feeling of ritual—almost tribal. Body percussion harkens back to the very roots of a cappella as a form invented before instruments were an option, when people might use any given part of themselves to invent rhythms and melodies.
I love it!