Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Choir Meaning & Examples #1: Learn How a Choir Works
Do you want to know the meaning of the word choir? In this post, you’ll learn how a choir works, including video and soundtrack examples of choir and chorus music. Keep reading Choir Meaning & Examples with Videos, Pictures, & Soundtracks to learn more.
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Choir Meaning & Examples #2: What is a Choir?
Choir meaning: A choir consists of a group of vocalists who sing together.
- Usually, they sing hymns and other sacred songs in church services, though secular choirs do exist. However, the label “chorus” or “a cappella group” will normally be applied to secular vocal ensembles.
- A choir can be any size or arrangement of voice types. However, SATB (i.e., Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) arrangements are most common.
- The singers work to blend their voices as they harmonize.
Voice types:
- Sopranos: high women’s voices
- Altos: low women’s voices
- Tenors: high men’s voices
- Basses: low men’s voices
Regarding the middle range voices, the mezzo-sopranos normally sing with the altos and the baritones normally sing with the basses in an SATB arrangement.
Choir members learn:
- How to sing with a supported tone
- How to blend their voices using vowel modification
- Ear training for singing in tune
In the classical tradition, choirs and choruses sing chorales, cantatas, oratorios, operas, and they even sing in symphonies.
- They can perform a cappella (without instruments) or with instrumental accompaniment.
- They’re usually led by a director who conducts during performances.
- Also, they can be either amateur or professional groups.
Choir Meaning & Examples #3: The Interactive Simulated SATB Choir
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
Soprano:
Alto:
Tenor:
Bass:
The Full Ensemble:
It’s hard to understand the meaning of a choir if you’ve never sung in one:
- The above simulated SATB choir will give you the experience of singing in an ensemble by using the sing-along song tracks.
- First, sing with the track for your voice type. Then, sing with the full ensemble track.
- If you don’t know your voice type, sing with the track that feels the most comfortable.
In addition, the soundtracks for this arrangement have been specially designed to help beginner vocalists learn how to sing in tune through intonation sound models.
For more articles with sing along soundtracks:
To learn how to read the shape note notation used in the above example:
Choir Meaning & Examples #4: Sacred Choir Examples
The following videos will help you understand the meaning of choir music:
- Handel’s Messiah is one of the pinnacles of sacred vocal music. The first video has the song For Unto Us a Child is Born (from the Messiah) arranged for SATB and continuo.
- To get the score: click here.
- The second video shows the contemporary vocal group Pentatonix singing an (almost) a cappella version of Mary, Did You Know?
Video: For Unto Us a Child is Born
Video: Mary, Did You Know?
Choir Meaning & Examples #5: Secular Chorus Example
The fourth movement of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony gives you a secular vocal ensemble example:
- Historically, this piece was the first time that vocalists had been added to a symphony orchestra.
- It’s one of classical music’s most popular works, and yet amazingly, Beethoven was deaf when he wrote it.
- To get the score: click here.
Video: Ode to Joy (Symphony No. 9)
Choir Meaning & Examples #6: Final Thoughts
To summarize Choir Meaning & Examples with Videos, Pictures, & Soundtracks:
- A choir is a collection of singers who harmonize together.
- They can be of any size or arrangement but usually perform sacred music.
- Also, they can be amateur or professional – with or without instrumental accompaniment.
Relate Posts:
- Harmonize with Sing-Along Songs
- 10 Elements that Impact Singing in Tune
- Where Do I Start if I Want to Be Able to Sing A Cappella?
© 2024 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
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