I sleep better a cappella. A capella, too. Without goats. Words will be the death of us all! :-)

As often happens, words in the English language mean different things in England than they do in America (maybe Australia, too.) I had never though of a cappella as literally meaning, in a chapel, or church. Then you get people who consider the voice as an instrument.
In which case, I guess you could never sing without an instrument..

I'm really enjoying this thread. I suppose I might as well comment on singing without accompaniment in old black or white gospel, and even in the rhtyhm and blues vocal groups they now label "Doo Wop," as they are so "church" in style. And then We'll demonstrate the difference in the workshop we're doing this Saturday. Allan, Colin, Noreen and Sussex Carole all know the difference, first hand. And what a glorious time it was to bring maritime, unaccompanied British Isles music together with black gospel when the Shellbacks were here!

When I sing the old style of white gospel unaccompanied, no one joins in on the verses (unless they know them) and then everyone comes in full blast on the chorus. In black gospel, while the lead singer is singing the verses, the other singers are either filling in with "oohs", "Aahs" "Oh Yeah's" or "Doo wopps", "ratta tatta toos" or "dip dips".. in doo wop, or sections of the lines in the verses.   On the choruses, the harmonies may actually sing all the words of the chorus, while the lead improvises above them, or just sings parts of each line, to lead the harmonies into the next line. It can be a very complicated interweaving of voices, rhythms and words which is definitely not British Isles in origin.

It's hard to describe on paper.

The next time we see you, we'll sing it so that you can hear it..

Jerry