When did a cappella start?

The history of a cappella dates back centuries. The earliest evidence of a cappella singing comes from the early Middle Ages, when European monks and nuns would sing religious chants in monasteries and churches. These chants were typically sung in Latin and were very simple in structure, consisting of a single melody line without any harmony.

Gradually, a cappella singing began to spread beyond the walls of monasteries and churches. In the Renaissance period, a cappella polyphony (multiple melodies sung at the same time) began to develop in Europe. This new style of a cappella singing was used in secular music as well as religious music, and it became very popular in the upper classes.

In the Baroque period, a cappella singing continued to flourish in Europe. Some of the most famous composers of a cappella music from this period include Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Tomás Luis de Victoria, and William Byrd.

In the 19th century, a cappella singing began to decline in popularity in Europe, but it continued to thrive in the United States. In the early 20th century, a number of new a cappella groups emerged in the United States, such as The Revelers, The Four Freshmen, and The Mills Brothers. These groups helped to popularize a cappella music and bring it to a wider audience.

In the 21st century, a cappella music is still popular and is performed by a wide variety of groups around the world. There are a number of a cappella festivals and competitions held each year, and a cappella music is often featured in movies and television shows.