The Choir & Chorus

A choir (or a chorus) is a group of singers who perform together. A distinction is often made between a 'choir', which is a body of church singers or a small, professional group, and a 'chorus' which is a large secular group. Another distinction is generally made between a chorus or choir (more than one singer to each) and a group of soloists (each part sung by one singer).

In biblical times, choruses had an important part in Jewish worship. In Ancient Greek drama, the chorus compound by male singers played a very important part. In early Christianity (since the 2nd century), with antiphonal and responsorial singing, the great Western choral tradition begins (although eastern music vocal tradition is as long and respectable). In the 15th century, polyphony was first assigned to choir-singing in Western music.

In the Middle Ages and until the 16th century, only men with high voices, falsetto, or boys, were permitted to sing the soprano parts with the men, while women were permitted to sing only in their convents. Later, castrato singers took over the alto and the soprano parts.

Except in certain festive contexts, such as royal weddings and formal ceremonies, secular music during the Renaissance continued to be sung by soloists called 'troubadours'.

It was in the Renaissance and through the Baroque period, that sacred polyphony began to be sung chorally, however, with choirs commonly in four basic voice parts (soprano-alto-tenor-bass).

During the classic period, a tradition of larger-scale performance developed, particularly in the Protestant countries. Choirs began to develop from 30-40 singers to numbers of as many as 1000 by the 1790s.

In Europe, the romantic period saw the cultivation on a new scale of the oratorio and sacred cantata repertory. Characteristic developments at the time were the foundation of numerous Bach societies and the growth of choral festivals for children.

In the early 20th century, the chorus's importance became strengthened with the composition of many choral symphonies or works of similar kind, of which Mahler's Symphony no.8 ("Symphony of a Thousand") has claims to be regarded as the largest and most important. In the 19th century the chorus should have become increasingly important in opera, as plots moved from classical history and mythology toward themes which involved more recent history.

In the early 20th century nationalist and political movements found a natural expression in choral music.

There are many kinds of vocal ensembles.