Fluid Transitions
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 #185: Fluid Transitions
Over the last five years or so, the seamless set has become a staple in high level scholastic competition. One song bleeds into another, or one note holds out to provide a bridge. Microphones get passed subtly from one soloist to another and there’s no resetting the physical configurations on stage. No blowing the next note to prepare.
These fluid transitions have their risks in not providing groups time to settle down or really recover if something went askew earlier on in a set. Moreover, if songs don’t have a melodic or thematic link, the bridge between them can seem a little forced. Just the same, when executed nicely, the seamless set is one of the most exciting ways for a group to engage an audience with its full set—not giving them time to glance at their phones or for their minds to wander, but rather demanding attention through continuous performance, and creating not only a seamless musical performance, but a sense of narrative flow through one whole story. When done right, these transitions can be just the ticket to elevate a strong set to professional grade.
I love it!