By Waqar Naseem Wamiq

RIYADH — The German Embassy in Riyadh organized an A Capella workshop with three singers and music teachers from Germany. A Capella is defined as music that is specifically group or solo singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way.

Gregor Praetorius, Steve Kuechler and Johann Beger from Halle, Germany, studied music education and, in their free time, perform the A Capella Group “Die Kinder vom See” (the children of the lake). Coming from a part of Germany with a long tradition of choral music they were eager to share their skills with interested young singers from Riyadh.

During the two-day workshop, which took place at the Goethe institute here, they familiarized the participants, who were all self-taught Saudi music enthusiast, with the techniques of A Capella singing.

A Capella singing relies only on the voice and no instruments, making it particularly challenging. In their workshop the trainers rehearsed a number of pieces, which the group would sing together with solo parts for all participants. In addition, they explained techniques such as so-called circle songs which help a larger group to perform live improvisation or a device called loop-station which allows to record yourself and play it along while you sing so that one person can actually sing polyphonically.

The participants showed their newly acquired skills at a small concert in the residence of the German Embassy. Proud of what the participants had learned over the two days, Gregor, one of the trainers, said it was a privilege to be part of the opening of the Saudi music scene and one of the participants explained, that until now they were all self-taught and it was extraordinary to have a professional teacher for the workshop.

The “Die Kinder vom See” gave a public concert at the Goethe Institute mesmerizing a large audience of music lovers from Riyadh.