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A cappella

2 stages from Italian to English.

Today it means vocal music performed without instrumental accompaniment
1
Stage 1 of 2
a cappella
Italian · 1600s
"in the chapel style"
literally in the chapel style, referring to unaccompanied choral singing
2
Stage 2 of 2
a cappella
English · 1870s
"singing without instrumental accompaniment"
adopted directly for singing without instrumental accompaniment
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