Each Tuesday, The A Cappella Blog presents a link to a collegiate a cappella performance, or related material, that we recommend to you.
We welcome clip suggestions from anyone who would like to submit them.
This week, we present Oxford University Out of the Blue performing Jimi Hendrix’s “Crosstown Traffic.”
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Take Note is a top-notch mixed group out of Catholic University. Group President Kim Clark took the time to answer questions from The A Cappella Blog
The A Cappella Blog: What is the audition process like for Take Note?
Kim Clark (KC): This is Take Note Acapella’s third year in existence so we’ve only had a few auditions up to date. At auditions, we have students fill out a history form explaining previous singing and/or music experience. We also make them answer a goofy question, normally along the lines of, “If you could be a cartoon character, who would you be?” or, “Did you cry at the end of Titanic?”. We have each auditionee sing a verse and a chorus of a pop/rock song that shows off their range. Next we ask them to sing up and down the scales and harmonize with us. We accept people in based on the spots we need filled and their musical/vocal abilities. A big deciding factor for our officer board is whether or not this auditionee has that special “it” factor we are looking for. We love seeing students that are filled with charisma and positive, upbeat energies!
ACB: How does your group go about deciding which songs to add to its repertoire? Who is responsible for arrangements?
KC: Almost all of our arrangements are purchased from professional a cappella arrangers. Although these can get expensive, we love having songs written custom to our groups needs and strengths. Our group also spends a lot of time thinking ahead, figuring out what songs will be the next big thing. Although we keep in mind not to choose an overplayed song that too many a cappella groups have done. Recently, we’ve been picking a lot of slow tempo, alternative, ballad pieces. Slower songs are fun to work on because it allows us to closely knit-pick harmonies and hone in on each dynamic at an unhurried pace.
The second annual SpringSing a cappella event is right around the corner. Event organizer Robert Burns, II took the time to answer questions from The A Cappella Blog.
The A Cappella Blog (ACB): One of the featured events of SpringSing is the collegiate competition. How many groups do you expect to participate this year? Who are the judges, and on what basis will they be selecting winners? What is at stake?
Robert Burns, II (RB): At this time, six collegiate groups are expected to participate. Groups will be from James Madison University, Georgia Tech, Florida, State and The University of Georgia. Judges include a representative from each of the professional performing groups as well as at least one judge from the Contemporary A cappella Society. Groups compete for a variety of prizes including a 1st Place trophy and cash prize of $500. There are other trophies and awards for 2nd and 3rd place, as well as certificates for excellence in any number of areas (i.e. best choreography, song Arrangement, etc.).
ACB: What professional groups can attendees expect to see on Friday night?
RB: Attendees can expect an A-list of professional performers in Friday night’s Benefit Concert. Here are just a few: Business as Usual, Duwende, Almost Recess, and Ahmir.
Casual Harmony is the only all-male a cappella group out of Rutgers University. In a just a few short years the group has made quite a name for itself on the national scene. Founded in 2003, the group has already made three appearances in the ICCA semifinals (placing twice) and now has two above average CDs to their credit.
But before we get to the group’s most recent, eponymous CD, I’d like to address my history with the group. I first saw Casual Harmony in the fledgling days of my a cappella fanship, at the 2005 ICCA Midatlantic Semifinal at Cornell. It was an odd year the competition that saw runners-up from the first round of the tournament compete that afternoon, with the top three finishers moving on to the evening’s semifinal round. And so, Casual Harmony earned its way into that night’s event, then played the iron men role, taking the stage for a second time in less than 10 hours to perform their set again. What happened is the stuff of legend. The group finished second in its quarterfinal, third in the afternoon qualifier, and yet want to turn in what is, to this day, the most impassioned display of a cappella I have ever seen to earn second place overall at that night’s event, highlighted by an emotionally ripping rendition of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” Not bad for a group that had been together for less than two years at that point.
In a departure from our normal content, we will be guiding you through this season of American Idol from The A Cappella Blog’s perspective. We’re going to do this through the 3 Gs format.
Great/Good: Represents my thoughts on the best performance(s) of the night—these are the star-makers, the tearjerkers, the ones we’re all going to remember.
Gone: Represents my thoughts on the contestant(s) who I think is most likely to be going home (not necessarily the one I think should be going home).
Give it a second look: Represents the act(s) you might not remember, or that we might not have expected much from, but which delivered just the same, and deserve another listen.
Here are my thoughts from tonight’s episode:
GOOD
Crystal Bowersox sees the light: What can I say? Every now and again, the judges nail it. This was a star-making performance that all but erased the hospital-trip-sympathy votes she was going to get anyway, replacing them with legit fan support for a talented musician. While not among my personal favorites, objectively speaking, this was quite possibly the best we’ve seen from any contestant this season.
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