There's something incredibly powerful about a cappella singing. It speaks to the soul, I think, in a way which is different to musical instruments alone.

I've told this story many years ago on Mudcat, but at the Australian National Folk Festival, sometime in the late 80's I think, I went to a workshop with about 20 harp players. The workshop was in the large rehearsal room below the main stage of the auditorium. It had a concrete floor and walls, and it was very long and narrow. The harps were set up in a long line against one wall, and because I was a rank beginner, and also had not brought my harp, I was more of a listener than a player.

I sat across the room from the harps and listened, and then realised that the harmonics from the harp strings were combining to create the effect of an angelic choir. High, clear, but very close harmonies (like the Hollywood version of an angelic choir) and indescribably beautiful.

Because the harps were set along one long wall, and because of the acoustics, the harp players couldn't hear the effect, I think. I was sitting opposite so I heard the full effect.

That's the closest I have heard to musical instruments creating that soul-stirring effect which a cappella music can do.

Helen