Choral Music and Importance of Choral Music

Originally posted by: ChorSymphonica

Camarata Chamber Singers, November, 2019

Choral music has always held a prominent position in American musical life. According to a Chorus America’s study, estimated 42.6 million Americans regularly sing in choruses today. More than 1 in 5 households have at least one singing family member, making choral singing the most popular form of participation in the performing arts for both adults and children. Music is an art, entertainment, pleasure, and medicine for the body and soul. Playing and listening to music is intrinsic to all cultures and has surprising benefits not only for improving memory and focusing attention, but also for physical coordination and development. Let’s drive deeper into what is choral music and understand its importance.

What is Choral music?

Choral music is music performed by a group of singers or a choir. The singers may perform without accompaniment, or may be accompanied by any instrumental combination, from piano to full orchestra. Choral music is necessarily “polyphonal” i.e., consisting of two or more autonomous vocal lines. Choral, chorale, choir, and chorus stand in obvious relationship to one another and are in some respects used interchangeably when a body of singers, for example, is referred to as a choir.