Chamber choir

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A chamber choir is a choir with a small cast, typically 20 to 30 people, in the broader sense 12 to 48 people. Mostly there is a focus on a cappella music.

term

The term “chamber choir” is based on the term “ chamber music ”; The relatively small cast should be expressed. However, a chamber choir does not perform chamber music, nor is the number of members to be understood analogously. In chamber music, each part is generally made up of a single instrument, but in a choir it is made up of at least three people - with smaller ensembles, one speaks of a vocal ensemble , with soloists a vocal quartet , octet or double quartet.

The word “chamber choir” has been used since the first half of the 20th century as a term for smaller choirs with a high musical level - however, it did not gain acceptance in this sense until after 1960.

Cast strength

  • Minimum size: 12 people
  • Common size: 24 to 36 people
  • Maximum size: 40 to 48 people

properties

A chamber choir consists of selected singers. He rehearses demanding music and must therefore be able to sing eight or more voices. Therefore chamber choirs rarely have fewer than 24 members. There are well-known chamber choirs that have a line-up of 40 to 48 people (e.g. Chamber Choir Stuttgart, Württemberg Chamber Choir).

The chamber choir differs from other choirs in that it has a significantly higher musical level. The repertoire usually requires advanced singers with developed vocal technique and trained hearing. Typical of the musical rehearsal work in the chamber choir is the intensive work on the choir sound, on the intonation , on the agogics and on a differentiated dynamic . The singing may not be carried out by the conductor and is partly the responsibility of the individual choir member.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. Harenberg: Harenberg Chormusikführer . Harenberg, 1999, ISBN 978-3-611-00818-4 ( limited preview in Google book search).