Dedications
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 #158: Dedications
Despite being a performance art, music is also a profoundly personal thing. Our tastes, the songs that resonate with us, the way in which we perform—all of these pieces are a part of our identity and how we make music uniquely our own.
While most a cappella performances are, at least superficially, intended for a broad audience, it can be a distinct pleasure when a soloist or the group’s director gets on the mic to make us aware that a performance is dedicated to someone in particular—a relative, a friend, someone they’ve lost, or someone they love. While too many dedications in a single show could risk alienating the audience, when used sparingly and earnestly, there are few things more touching than seeing a performance so clearly in tribute to a specific someone.
I love it!