It was exciting for UAlbany to host the Maccabeats at the Performing Arts Center. Kudos to UAlbany Hillel for organizing and hosting, selling out the show, which filled the large Main Theater with lots of community and students. There was a great cross-section of community represented, and there was great vibe throughout.
Watching these talented acappella vocalists and performers live and up close, helped me realize a bunch of acapella fundamentals that are also true in many areas of life.
TIMING – Timing seems to play a huge role, you see this from their subtle hand motions, and the way they synchronize so well. All you need is one lagging voice or someone hanging one note behind to set it all off. All “Jewish Standard Time” jokes aside, proper timing and good time management is crucial to a successful life and Jewish observance, too.
CONTROL – Staying in control of your voice and range is more important than in a regular band, because there are no instruments playing to hide behind. It’s all in the voice, so it needs to be held together very well. No straying allowed. It’s expressive allright, but no room for freelance wandering or meandering. We’re used to artistic expression being open and free, but there are many forms of it that rely on controls and systems and metrics to express their potential and beauty. Controls are not all negative, many positives are impossible without them.
DIFFERENT & DISTINCTIVE, YET HARMONIZING – In introducing the choir members, they pointed out the different strengths and roles of the various vocalists, from vocal percussionist (or mouth drumming) to base and the whole middle section. They each have to be different for it to sound the way it does, but their differences are only beautiful when they support and complement each other. It’s not a jarring contrast, it all comes together wonderfully. As with the different components of a family, classroom or community, and even when it comes to the various aspects within ourselves.
BACKGROUND IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE FORE – Yes, each song or part of song has its vocalist, whose voice you hear above the rest. But those humming, beatboxing or adding depth etc in the background are just as crucial to the total effect. In our effort to focus we may unintentionally blur the background of our lives and not recognize or undervalue those who contribute meaningfully in a supportive role.
NATURAL VOICES – My favorite part of the concert was when they put their mics down, walked to the front of the stage and while standing in a small huddle, they sang a beautiful “Oseh Shalom” in their natural voices. They were at the edge of the stage, we at the edge of our seats, and that whole theater became a much smaller place. True, some of the vocal effects were not the same without the mics and the tricks they can play with sound that way, but it was so genuine and natural and honest. It was softer, more real. People gravitate toward something refreshingly genuine, it pulls you right in.
FALSETTO – Falsetto isn’t really false. It’s about striving beyond our natural capabilities, going beyond our comfort zone. Yet at the same time remembering that its a push, a stretch, and not our normal range.
CLOSURE – In regular music songs have different ways of ending, they can come to a dramatic close, slowly fade away or linger. It seems that a crisp finish is especially important in acapella. It has to end tight, all together, decisively. Emotionally, some like to let issues drag out or linger, but its often healthy to get closure and wrap it up.
And then there’s the message “The Mouth Does It All” that we shared this past Shabbat, in honor of the Maccabeats concert and in preparation for the High Holidays.