A choir, also called a chorale or chorus, is a musical ensemble of singers, and choral music is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs draw on repertoire ranging from the classical tradition, spanning the medieval era to the present, to popular music, and most are led by a conductor who directs the performance through arm, hand and facial gestures.
Facts
MediumMusic written specifically for a choir, a musical ensemble of singers, to perform. 1 Signature TechniqueLed by a conductor, who directs the ensemble with arm, hand and facial gestures. 1 Place of OriginAncient Greece carries the oldest unambiguously surviving choral repertory. 1 Notable ExampleMozart's Requiem in D minor, among the most highly regarded sacred choral works. 1 Connections
Associated With
Gregorian chant, the medieval monophonic liturgical repertoire, is the historical root from which the later Western choral tradition grew.
Practitioners
Johann Sebastian Bachs cantatas, the Mass in B minor and the Passions are foundational works of the Western choral tradition.
Sources
1. Choir (Wikipedia)
Wikipedialead section, Choir
Most choirs are led by a conductor, who leads the performances with arm, hand, and facial gestures.
Antiquity subsection, Choir
The oldest unambiguously choral repertory that survives is that of ancient Greece, of which the 2nd century BC Delphic hymns and the 2nd century AD. hymns of Mesomedes are the most complete.
Repertoire section, Choir
Mozart's mostly sacred choral works stand out as some of his greatest (such as the "Great" Mass in C minor and Requiem in D minor, the latter of which is highly regarded).
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