A cappella masterpieces: Recommended songs where beautiful harmonies shine (Western and Japanese music)

Let’s go a cappellaTRY-TONE

Let's go a cappella

This is a song by the Japanese a cappella group TRY-TONE.

It has a jazzy vibe, but it also gives off a Showa-era folk atmosphere, making it a bright yet somehow comforting song.

The group is now down to three members, but they’re still active.

They hold workshops, so they might be more approachable than you’d expect.

Since the group originated from a Waseda University club, I think it could be a great starting point for students who want to practice a cappella.

DannyBoyVOX ONE

DannyBoy acappella

They are an American a cappella group.

All five members are graduates of Berklee College of Music, and they are said to be actively involved in mentoring the next generation, including teaching at their alma mater.

This song is an Irish folk ballad that poignantly expresses a parent’s feelings for a son going off to war, and it has been covered by artists across many genres.

Mein Fahrraddie Prinzen

Die Prinzen – Mein Fahrrad (Offizielles Musikvideo)

This is a song by my personal favorite German group, die Prinzen.

The title means “My Bicycle.” All five members are from Leipzig in former East Germany, and they all come from a choir background.

As you’d expect from choir singers, their vocal production and harmonies are very beautiful.

In Japan, some people—soccer fans, for example—might know them from songs like “Oli Kahn,” and German learners may know them from the NHK Radio 2 German course.

Their pronunciation is very clear and easy to understand, so I recommend them to learners of German.

If you follow the lyrics, you’ll notice that, while they use solid, grammatically correct German, they sing funny or cynical lyrics with beautiful voices and a straight face—another source of their appeal.

Their music has good variety and dynamic range, and they have a wide repertoire.

They’re also good at church music, such as Christmas songs.

Sebastian and Tobias are mainly on vocals, but there are songs where the high-voiced Wolfgang is the lead, as well as songs where the low-voiced Jens takes the lead, so I’d be delighted if you could listen to a range of their tracks.

If We Trym-pact

M•PACT – “If We Try” (live)

This is a song by m-pact, an American a cappella group currently consisting of six members, formed in Los Angeles in 1995.

The high notes are impressive—hard to believe they’re sung by male voices.

The vocal percussion is solid as well.

Each member seems to have a strong individual character, but as you’d expect from a group that has won music awards in Los Angeles, they come together very cohesively overall.

Hymn No. 312: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”Charles Crozat Converse

Hymn No. 312: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

This is a beloved hymn by Charles Crozat Converse, who also worked as a lawyer.

The original lyrics are said to have been written by someone who suffered the profound sorrow of losing a fiancée twice.

The warm, enveloping melody—overflowing like a prayer to a friend who shares every burden—soothes the heart.

Composed around 1868, the piece’s composer, Converse, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1895.

It’s a recommended song to listen to when you want to quietly reflect or drift off to sleep with a sense of peace.

Hark The Herald Angels SingThe Blenders

Hark The Herald Angels Sing – The Blenders

This is The Blenders, an a cappella quartet based in Minnesota, USA.

The song is “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” a Christmas carol that almost everyone has probably heard at least once.

Their voices are crystal clear, with beautiful lows and highs, and the breadth and richness of their harmonies are outstanding.

It makes you wonder, “Are there really only four people singing this?!” It’s definitely something you’ll want to hear at Christmas.

Bohemian RhapsodyMO5AIC

MO5AIC™ – Bohemian Rhapsody

This is a song by MO5AIC (MOSAIC), a five-man a cappella group from Las Vegas, USA, formed in 2002.

Both the vocal percussion and the high notes are beautiful.

Despite their appearance, their singing voices are very gentle and their harmonies are beautiful.

They are a group that skillfully incorporates a wide range of elements, from pop, rock, and jazz to opera.

The Lion Sleeps TonightLadysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo – The Lion Sleeps Tonight | Mbube en clave infantil y coral

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a South African male choral group that sings in styles known as isicathamiya and mbube.

This song was covered by The Tokens in 1961 and became a major hit, and more recently it is known as a featured song in The Lion King.

Disney MedleyAlex G & Peter Hollens

Disney Medley | Alex G & Peter Hollens Medley

Both Alex G and Peter Hollens are American singer-songwriters.

This medley features a succession of beloved Disney classics, starting with the theme song from The Lion King.

Remarkably, no instruments are used at all; everything besides the lead vocals—chorus and percussion alike—is performed entirely with their two voices.

ElviraHome Free

Home Free – Elvira (feat. The Oak Ridge Boys)

Home Free is a five-member country a cappella group that won the American a cappella audition show The Sing-Off.

In this song, they deliver a special collaboration with the original performers, The Oak Ridge Boys, resulting in a lively, irresistibly toe-tapping vibe.