What is a choir? Unison and part singing
A choir (or chorus) is a group of people who sing together. A choir often has a conductor who keeps everyone together.
Unison: everyone sings the same note at the same time.
Part singing: different groups sing different notes at the same time. The notes fit together to make harmony. Some simple kinds of part singing are:
- Round (canon): everyone sings the same tune, but they start one after another, like "Row, row, row your boat".
- Harmony: one group sings the tune, another sings notes that sound good with it.
- Descant: a high, decorative tune above the main tune.
The four voices: soprano, alto, tenor, bass (SATB)
Most choirs have four parts, from high to low:
- Soprano: the highest voice (often women or children).
- Alto: the lower female voice (or boys with a lower voice).
- Tenor: the higher male voice.
- Bass: the lowest male voice.
The soprano usually carries the tune. Alto and tenor fill in the middle. The bass gives a strong base for the chords. This is called SATB. A choir of children may sing in two or three parts instead. A choir that sings with no instruments is called a cappella.
Cantata: a short piece for choir, soloists and instruments
The word cantata comes from the Italian word for "sung". A cantata is a work for singers and instruments with several short movements, such as a chorus, an aria (a song for one soloist) and a recitative (speech-like singing that moves the story along).
- It usually lasts about 15 to 30 minutes.
- It is performed without acting, costumes or scenery.
- Many cantatas are sacred (used in church), but some are about everyday or festive subjects.
Examples: J. S. Bach (Germany, early 1700s) wrote more than 200 church cantatas, such as Wachet auf (BWV 140). Some of his cantatas are for one soloist only, and one famous one is about coffee drinking.
Oratorio: a big story in music
An oratorio is a large work for choir, soloists and orchestra that tells a story, usually from the Bible or a great legend. It has recitatives, arias and big choruses, like an opera, but it is performed in concert: no costumes, no scenery and no acting.
- It often lasts 1.5 to 3 hours.
- The choir has a big role: it can be the crowd, the angels or the narrator.
Examples:
- G. F. Handel, Messiah (1741), including the famous "Hallelujah" chorus.
- Joseph Haydn, The Creation (1798).
- Felix Mendelssohn, Elijah (1846).
- J. S. Bach, Christmas Oratorio (1734).
Cantata, oratorio and opera: how are they different?
| Cantata | Oratorio | Opera | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | Short (15–30 min) | Long (1.5–3 h) | Long (2–4 h) |
| Acting and scenery | No | No | Yes |
| Choir, soloists, instruments | Yes, small | Yes, large | Yes |
Try it: sing "Row, row, row your boat" as a round with three friends. Start one after another, each two lines apart. You have just done part singing. Then listen to the "Hallelujah" chorus and count how many different parts you can hear at once.
Key formulas and definitions
- Unison = all voices on the same note
- Part singing = different voices on different notes at the same time = harmony
- SATB = Soprano (high), Alto, Tenor, Bass (low)
- Cantata = short work for choir, soloists and instruments (about 15–30 min), no acting
- Oratorio = long work of the same kind (1.5–3 h), concert only, no costumes or scenery
Worked examples
1. A choir sings a tune. The sopranos sing the tune and the basses sing a lower note below it at the same time. Is it unison or part singing?
Part singing, because different voices sing different notes together. In unison all voices would sing the same note.
2. Put these voices in order from highest to lowest: bass, soprano, tenor, alto.
Soprano, alto, tenor, bass.
3. A concert has a choir, four soloists and a full orchestra telling the story of the Creation. It lasts two hours and there is no acting. Is it a cantata, an oratorio or an opera?
An oratorio. It is long, large and in concert form. A cantata would be much shorter, and an opera would have acting and scenery. Haydn's The Creation is a real example.
Common mistakes
- Thinking part singing means singing out of tune. The parts are planned notes that fit together.
- Mixing up the voices: soprano is the highest, bass is the lowest.
- Thinking an oratorio is the same as an opera. An oratorio has no acting, costumes or scenery.
- Thinking a cantata is always sacred. Many are, but some are about daily life.