UPDATE: Plainvew Treated to Glories of 'A Cappella'

Glorious harmonies filled the auditorium at Friday night in a stellar  night of singing.

Young people from several Plainview a cappella groups worked their musical magic, singing four-part harmonies without accompaniment from a variety of musical genres.

Parents of the students will recognize the sound as the music of the street corner, made famous by the doo-wop sounds of the likes of Dion and the Belmonts, the Platters, and the Coasters in the 1950s.

But the roots of a cappella singing go much further back. A cappella means, in Italian, "in the manner of the church," and is rooted in the Gregorian chants of the early Middle Ages. These unaccompanied harmonies are the foundation of western music, and find their way into modern music as diverse as barbershop quartets and rap.

It was alive and well and re-energized Friday night by a host of Plainview JFK singing ensembles:The "Acafella's" the "Rolling Tones" the "B Sharps," "Chock Full of Notes," "Drastic Measures," "On A High Note," and "Noteworthy." 

See our photos and videos here, sent in by Patch readers. Special thanks to Patch contributor Steve Saltzman, who spent hours editing the videos we've attached here. Steve's son, Allen, is a featured singer with "The Acafellas."

We thank all of the community for its effort in presenting this musical treat. And, we invite parents and students to send your photos and videos of all of Plainview's school events.