Vocal Music

One understands by vocal music , any intended music, exclusively or not, with the voice. This concept is thus opposed to that Instrumental music.

General information

The voice, an instrument with share

The singular treatment from which profits the human voice compared to the other instruments, can be explained by various considerations.

Historically, the voice can be regarded as “the oldest musical instrument”. Indeed, this completely particular instrument did not have to be “manufactured” by the primitive man, who simply had to learn how to make use of it. The other instruments, at the time of their appearance, initially were of the prolongations of the voice: they did not become instruments with whole share, independent of this one, that at the conclusion long and slow evolution.

the voice is the only instrument which allows the simultaneous articulation of a text.

the voice with being properly spoken built-in with the musician interprets, the quality of a vocal interpretation will be very easily affected by the least disturbance felt by the Chanteur: tire, emotion, trac, contrariety, disease… This whole of constraints which weighs on the vocal music, thus justifies the distinction between this one and the instrumental music.

Intervention of instruments in the vocal music

A music can entirely be or partially vocal.

On the first assumption, the interpreters are exclusively singers: this type of musical interpretation is known as “has cappella”.

For example, the Gregorian chant is normally practiced in the absence of any instrument.

On the second assumption, there is at the same time presence of singers and instrumentalists, and this, in variable proportions.

For example, the Ninth Symphony of Beethoven, written for voice and Orchestra, must be classified in the vocal music, whereas the Symphonie is a Musical genre usually belonging to the Instrumental music.

Vocal soloist and chorus

According to whether same a left musical is carried out by only one interprets or by several, one will deal, with vocal Soliste in the first case, or with a chorus in the second. Generally, the soloists are likely to show a greater virtuosity (valiancy, power, swiftness…), and can be authorized a greater freedom in interpretation.

In the Classical music, this distinction between the soloist and the chorus was born with the beginning from the period baroque.

Classical music

The Classical music, i.e. the erudite Western music, is exclusively vocal throughout all Moyen-âge.

Kinds

Genres of the crowned vocal music
Genres of the vocal music profanes
popular vocal Musique: Human Beatbox

Type-setters

Type-setters of the Middle Ages
Type-setters of the Rebirth
Type-setters of the period baroque
Type-setters of the traditional period
Type-setters of the romantic period
Type-setters of the modern period
Type-setters of the contemporary period

Vocal works

traditional vocal Works

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