I watched this video for the first time in my third-grade classroom. It greatly intrigued me because it was the first time I was introduced to acapella music. Knowing that people’s voices were creating all of the sounds I was hearing fascinated me. I love music, and I love creating music. To see how this group had taken a classic song and made it their own was incredible to hear.
The part that I want to talk about most is the introduction to the piece. There is a slow build to create the environment that prepares the listener for the content of the song. It starts out with the choir rubbing their palms together creating the sound of a steady drizzle. Then, they start snapping to make the rain sound like actual drops hitting a roof. They transition by groups from the snaps to hitting their thighs with their palms. The storm builds as individuals begin to stomp creating the sounds of rolls of thunder. This happens a few times and then it goes back to the snaps of steady drops. This lasts for several seconds before actually beginning the song. If you close your eyes and listen to the sounds, you truly feel like you are immersed in a rainstorm experiencing each phase of it.