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Choral
A choir (; also known as a quire, chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which spans from the Medieval era to the present, or popular music repertoire. Most choirs are led by a conductor, who leads the performances with arm and face gestures.
A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus. The former term is very often applied to groups affiliated with a church (whether or not they actually occupy the choir) and the second to groups that perform in theatres or concert halls, but this distinction is far from rigid. Choirs may sing without instrumental accompaniment, with the accompaniment of a piano or pipe organ, with a small ensemble (e.g., harpsichord, cello and double bass for a Baroque piece), or with a full orchestra of 70 to 100 musicians.
The term “Choir” has the secondary definition of a subset of an ensemble; thus one speaks of the “woodwind choir” of an orchestra, or different “choirs” of voices or instruments in a polychoral composition. In typical 18th- to 21st-century oratorios and masses, chorus or choir is usually understood to imply more than one singer per part, in contrast to the quartet of soloists also featured in these works.
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Choral (adjective)
Of, relating to, written for, or performed by a choir or a chorus.
“Palestrina wrote choral music for the Catholic church.”
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Choral (noun)
alternative form of chorale
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Chorus (noun)
A group of singers and dancers in the religious festivals of ancient Greece
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Chorus (noun)
A group of people in a play or performance who recite together.
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Chorus (noun)
A group of singers; singing group who perform together.
“The performance of the chorus was awe-inspiring and exhilarating.”
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Chorus (noun)
A repeated part of a song, also called the refrain.
“The catchiest part of most songs is the chorus.”
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Chorus (noun)
The improvised solo section in a small group performance.
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Chorus (noun)
A setting or feature in electronic music that makes one voice sound like many.
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Chorus (noun)
A group of people or animals who make sounds together
“A chorus of crickets”
“A chorus of whiners”
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Chorus (noun)
The noise made by such a group.
“a chorus of shouts and catcalls””
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Chorus (noun)
An actor who reads the opening and closing lines of a play.
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Chorus (verb)
To sing or recite in chorus.
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Chorus (verb)
To say in unison; to express in unison.
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Chorus (verb)
To echo (a particular sentiment).
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Chorus (verb)
To sing the chorus (of a song).
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Chorus (verb)
To speak as if in chorus (about something)
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Chorus (verb)
To echo in unison another person’s words.
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Chorus (verb)
(of animals) To make their cry together.
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Chorus (noun)
a part of a song which is repeated after each verse
“strong guitar-driven songs with big, big choruses”
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Chorus (noun)
a piece of choral music, especially one forming part of a larger work such as an opera
“a selection of choruses from the ‘Messiah’”
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Chorus (noun)
a simple song for group singing in informal Christian worship
“a typical service includes several hymns and choruses sung by all”
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Chorus (noun)
a large organized group of singers, especially one which performs with an orchestra or opera company
“he has words of praise for the RSNO Chorus”
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Chorus (noun)
a group of singers or dancers performing together in a supporting role in a musical or opera
“the orchestra lacked polish and the chorus were inclined to rush ahead regardless”
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Chorus (noun)
a simultaneous utterance of something by many people
“‘Good morning,’ we replied in chorus”
“a growing chorus of complaint”
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Chorus (noun)
(in ancient Greek tragedy) a group of performers who comment together on the main action
“Sophocles no longer gave the chorus the major role”
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Chorus (noun)
a single character who speaks the prologue and other linking parts of the play, especially in Elizabethan drama.
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Chorus (noun)
a section of text spoken by the chorus in drama.
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Chorus (noun)
a device used with an amplified musical instrument to give the impression that more than one instrument is being played
“a chorus pedal”
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Chorus (verb)
(of a group of people) say the same thing at the same time
“‘Morning, Sister,’ the nurses chorused”