Chorus (music)

See also: Chorus

In Music, the word chorus can return to several directions.

Together vocal

A chorus indicates a musical Ensemble first of all, of vocal nature exclusively , whose members, called Choriste S, sing collectively different the left musical intended for this type of formation under the direction from a Chef chorus. The concept of chorus is thus opposed to that overall Soliste S.

Taken in this direction, the word “chorus” is overall Synonyme with Chorale.

the chorus, which in the beginning is a musical formation religious, owes its name with the place which it traditionally occupied in the church.

  • According to the age and the Sex of the chorus-singers, one will distinguish: the Chorus of children , the chorus of men , the chorus of women , or, the mixed chorus - acute voices and voice serious assemblies (but a mixed chorus can be trained men and women).

  • the members of a chorus can be divided into several groups, called Pupitre S or voice. These various groups are intended to as many interpret left musical different.

For example, a mixed chorus generally includes/understands four female desks, two desks - Soprano and viola - and two male desks - Ténor and low. This type of chorus is called SATB . According to the type of formation, one can find a number lower or higher than four desks. When there is one of them, all the chorus sings in unison then.

  • From the point of view of manpower, one can deal with large or very large formations - more than one hundred chorus-singers -, with formations of average importance - between thirty and hundred chorus-singers -, or with small formations - less than thirty chorus-singers. Let us recall that, whatever the number of desks and whatever the full number of chorus-singers, a vocal ensemble in which each desk is held by only one executant is not any more one chorus, but a together of soloists .

Musical part

During an unspecified musical execution, one names chorus - or choruses , in the plural - each intervention of this type of formation.

One will say, for example, whom in the Messe in so minor of Bach, the choruses are abundantly solicited, since the first, until the last measurement of the work.

One will also say that the 4th movement of the 9 {{E}} symphony of Beethoven contains a chorus, the famous Hymne with the joy. The orchestral prelude of the movement was selected as European Hymne in 1972 in Strasbourg (the words depend on each language).

  • By extension, in the sector of the Song or the popular Music, the “ choruses ” indicates the left S vocal heard with the background , therefore, the parts other than those sung by the interprets principal. This second meaning is of use whatever the real manpower of the “ choruses ” in question: to the limit, when a only singer accompanies the principal voice, one can say that this singer “ makes the choruses ”.

  • the traditional provision of a chorus is the following one: sopranos (in front of on the right), violas (in front of on the left), tenors (at the bottom on the right, behind the sopranos) and the low ones (at the bottom on the left, behind the violas).

Musical genre

Within a composite piece of music of nature - a opera, a Oratorio, a Mass, a Cantata… -, a chorus is also a particular Musical genre, precisely intended to be interpreted by this type of together vocal, and not by soloists - in opposition to the Aria S, with the Duo S, etc This musical genre can be accompanied by a instrumental part: in the contrary case, one says that the chorus in question must be interpreted has cappella .

Let us quote, for example, celebrates it “ Alleluia ”, of the oratorio the Messiah of Haendel, or, the not less famous “ Va, pensiero ”, of the opera Nabucco of Verdi.

Musical instrument

On some string instruments pinches, a chorus also indicates a group of cord S granted to the Unisson or the octave and intended to be played simultaneously.

Repertory

The repertory of the music choral society is very rich during all the time since the Renaissance. The principal type-setters are, by chronological order (roughly):

For a list of vocal works (not only choral societies), to consult:

  • traditional vocal Works

Related subjects

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