Choral Performance Essentials

Study Notes

Choreography

Choreographed movement is optional
Some choirs use movement to enhance their performances

Costume

Simple costumes: matching outfits or robes
Elaborate costumes: theatrical garb
Costumes chosen to highlight performance meaning
Plain uniforms allow focus on facial expressions
Themed costumes add to performance

Voice Quality

Combines light, medium, and dark voices
Communicates through voice and emotional reactions

Number of Voices

Adding or subtracting voices controls sound
Power of voice changes meaning

Pitch

Pitch is how high or low the voice is
Also known as inflection

Power

Power refers to volume, force, or loudness
Used as emphasis in appropriate places

Phrasing and Rhythm

Phrasing and rhythm reinforce each other

Tempo

Tempo is the speed of the performance
Blending tempo expresses meaning
Tempo is related to the poem's "beat"

Staging

Organizing the choir on stage
Enhancing the performance through staging and exits of performers
Costuming performers to complement the performance Conjunction-is a word used to connect other words or group of words.

Coordinating connects similar kinds or groups of words. (FANBOYS)
Correlative: connects similar words or groups of words, and always comes in pairs.
Subordinating, connects two ideas, making one more important that the other.

Compounding-is the formation of a word from a two or more root words.

Example: mailman (composed of free root mail and free root man) dog house, fireplace, fire hydrant, dry run, pick-up truck

Kinds of Compounding:Examples:

Toothbrush (a brush for teeth)
Doghouse (a house for a dog)
Bookstore (a store that sells books)
Snowman (a man made of snow)
Basketball (a ball used in basketball)

b. Exocentric Compounds

Exocentric compounds do not have a head, the meaning is not directly derived from either part of the compound. Instead, they often refer to something that is not explicitly named in the components

Examples:

1 Redneck (refers to a stereotype, not a specific red neck)

2 Pickpocket (a person who picks pockets, not a type of pocket)

Housekeeper (a person who keeps a house, not a type of keeper)

4 Maverick (refers to an independent minded person)

5 Scarecrow (an object meant to scare crows)

c. Copulative Compounds

Copulative compounds combine two elements that are equally important, usually linked by a conjunction like "and." Each part contributes to the overall meaning

Examples:

1 Teacher-student (a relationship between a teacher and a student)

Bittersweet (combining bitter and sweet emotions)
Actor-director (someone who is both an actor and a director)
North-south (referring to both northem and southern regions)
Male-female (referring to both genders)

d. Appositional Compounds

Appositional compounds consist of two elements that are in apposition, meaning they refer to the same entity but provide different aspects or characteristics.

Examples:

New York City (New York and the city are the same)
Pasta salad (salad made of pasta)
Cactus plant (a plant that is a cactus)

4 Cupcake shop (a shop that sells cupcakes)

Car engine (an engine that is part of a car)

e. Borrowed Compounds

Borrowed compounds are formed from elements taken from different languages. These compounds often reflect a mix of cultural influences

Examples:

Sushi roll (combining Japanese "sushi" with English "roll")
Spaghetti Bolognese (Italian "spaghetti" with English "bolognese")
Taco truck (Spanish "taco" with English "truck")

Description

This quiz explores the fundamental elements of choral performance, including choreography, costume, voice quality, and staging. Understand how these components come together to enhance a choir's presentation and emotional impact. Test your knowledge on the techniques that define successful choral music performance.