‘Home Free’ and Peter Hollens Unite For A Soaring Acapella Performance
Famed acapella singer Peter Hollens is versatile enough to tackle secular songs, musical scores, and religious hymns while looking like he is having the time of his life. Hollens first gained notice as a student at the University of Oregon, where he co-founded the On the Rocks men’s singing group in 1999. He quickly became a sensation, appearing on television shows and releasing albums on a major label. Hollens has shared his passion with the world, helping to popularize acapella singing.
Movies like Pitch Perfect may exaggerate, but the drive and competitiveness shown are real. Acapella arrangements and execution must be flawless, with singers in tune with each other, not instruments. When tools are needed, group members often emulate them with handclaps or mouth noises.
The earliest acapella singing dates back to 1400s Europe for church services, later branching into secular use during the mid-Renaissance. Peter Hollens is mostly known for secular recordings but often includes hymns on his albums and YouTube channel.
The video is from an Amazing Grace cover on Hollens’s 2018 album, Legendary Folk Songs, featuring acapella group Home Free, who won the Sing Off competition in 2013. Home Free continues to tour and receive media coverage. Only two members are present initially, but all five join in later.
Home Free, active since 2000, released an album on Sony records after winning the Sing Off. They have been releasing albums independently since 2001. The video begins in a tranquil church, with Hollens and two men from Home Free launching into Amazing Grace. The camera soon reveals the other three members seamlessly joining in, maintaining the smooth tone.
The scene shifts to an open meadow where all six singers deliver heartfelt lyrics, reinforcing the song’s message and origin. The smooth melding of voices, the heart of acapella singing, is a technical marvel and lovely to hear. In the end, Hollens thanks Home Free members for the recording opportunity, showcasing his skill and graciousness.
