Types of choral groups. Definition of the concept "choir Orenburg folk choir

Chora- a unique practice focused on strengthening endurance in all forms: mental, intellectual and physical.

In our world, endurance is one of the key qualities allowing you to succeed. In order to meet the requirements of a modern constantly changing society, not to be among the outsiders, a person must efficiently and work hard. But without stamina, this is often the path to burnout. The use of the practice of Choir allows you to do the same amount of work, but at the same time be in active physical, intellectual and mental state, minimizing your fatigue... Particular attention is paid to Hora mental and intellectual endurance, after all, in the modern world, most people are engaged in work that does not require the application of physical effort.

In the process of Hora, it allows for constant support, pumping and strengthening of the psychophysical and evolutionary natural potential.

The key principle of Choir practice is combination of pressure and resistance, like the harmony inherent in the eastern philosophical principle "yin-yang". This is manifested in every exercise - the interaction of masculine and feminine principles, strength and compliance. This principle can also be substantiated from the point of view of the Western concept of evolution - species are forced to resist and adapt to the pressure of the natural environment, this is how life develops.

In terms of physical practice, pressure and resistance contribute to internal heating, which, with the correct connection of the breath, establishes harmonious energy exchange in the body... At the same time, the spiritual and the physical are united together: by firmly fixing himself in an extremely supporting position or plunging into a forceful action, a person achieves states of wholeness.

Master the Choir at the level intelligence is impossible- practice plays a key role, and in it all the work performs instinct.

Classes in the Hora system are held in the training mode, each of which lasts from one and a half to two hours... At the same time, the development of sustainable changes and results takes place in comfortable and gradual pace... Chora can be practiced both in a group and individually - under the supervision of the leader, which can maximally take into account the characteristics of the practitioner and optimize the load. Choir work is done in pairs... Exercise does not require special sports training, but they can be dealt with only under the supervision of a specialist. You cannot practice Hora on your own.

Advantages Chora before other methods can be summarized as follows:

• Adaptation for a modern person;
• Clarity and pragmatism;
• Naturalness;
• Unity of rest and action;
• Uniqueness;
• Evolutionary potential.

To basic principles Choir include:

• Instinctive-evolutionary support;
• Instinctive-evolutionary type of breathing;
• Instinctive evolutionary concentration of attention.

In addition to the general training program, the Chora has modifications, in particular women's program focused on sex appeal.

Chora allows you not only to achieve an optimal mental state, but also to get rid of from a number of diseases... In particular, this practice has worked well for spinal rehabilitation, allowing the healing process to take place naturally and holistically.

Mixed choir is formed as a result of the combination of a children's or female choir with a male; in a mixed choir - two groups of voices: the upper one - female or children's voices, the lower one - male voices.
A typical composition of a four-part mixed choir has soprano, alto, tenor and bass parts. An example of such a composition is the chorus from Act I of the opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila" by Glinka - "To the Bright Prince and Health and Glory":

A. Incomplete mixed choir
A mixed choir may not include all of the named parties, but only some of them. For example, a choir might have altos, tenors, and basses; or soprano, alto and tenor; any combination of one of the choral parts of the upper group can be combined with one of the parts of the lower group (soprano + tenor, alto + bass, alto + tenor, etc.). Such compositions form an incomplete mixed choir.

B. Doubling Voices in Mixed Choir
Depending on the texture of a piece of music, a mixed choir can sing in unison (rare cases) or in an octave, the so-called octave unison (common case); can also sing in two voices, in the latter case, the soprano part is usually dubbed an octave by the tenor part, and the alto part - by the bass part. All single-part and two-part choral works can thus be performed by a mixed choir with octave doublings.
When a mixed choir is performing a piece of music laid out in three voices, the most common duplication technique is octave doublings between the first sopranos and first tenors, between the second sopranos and second tenors, between altos and basses.
An example of the duplication of voices in unison and octave can be found below excerpts from the opera "Prince Igor" by I. Borodin:

B. Possibilities of a mixed choir in connection with split voices

It was said above that the mixed choir is basically four-part. However, the capabilities of a mixed choir far exceed this typical presentation. If in choral scores designed for a homogeneous composition, the division reaches four, five, six and even seven voices, then it is not difficult to imagine the possibility of dividing the parties of a mixed choir, which has two homogeneous choirs in its composition.
Let us consider some combinations resulting from the division of voices of a mixed choir, adopting the following conventions for this: voices are designated by letters (C - soprano, A - alto, T - tenor, B - bass); the numbers near the letter indicate the part being played - the first or second, etc. For example, C 1 stands for the first sopranos, C 2 stands for the second sopranos, etc.

1. (C 1 + C 2) + A + T + B
2.C + (A 1 + A2) + T + B
3.C + A + (T 1 + T 2) + B
4.C + A + T + (B 1 + B 2)

1. (C 1 + C 2) + (A 1 + A 2) + T + B
2. (C 1 + C 2) + A + (T 1 + T 2) + B
3. (C 1 + C 2) + A + T + (B 1 + B 2)
4.C + (A 1 + A 2) + (T 1 + T 2) + B
5.C + (A 1 + A 2) + T + (B 1 + B 2)
6.C + A + (T 1 + T 2) + (B 1 + B 2)

1. (C 1 + C2) + (A 1 + A 2) + (T 1 + T 2) + B
2.C + (A 1 + A2) + (T 1 + T 2) + (B 1 + B 2)
3. (C 1 + C2) + A + (T 1 + T 2) + (B 1 + B 2)
4. (C 1 + C2) + (A 1 + A 2) + T + (B 1 + B 2)

(C 1 + C 2) + (A 1 + A 2) + (T 1 + T 2) + (B 1 + B 2)

Other combinations are also possible. It is not uncommon for a piece of music to be performed by two or even three choirs.
Thus, according to the number of voices for which the performed work is calculated, the mixed choir can be one-voice, two-voice, three-, four-, five-, six-, seven-, eight-voice, etc.

There are many polyphonic choirs in Russian musical literature. We recommend that the student analyze the choirs of Taneyev op. 27.

What is a choir, and what is not a choir, but can only be called a collection of singers? What is choral sonority, and what is only the sound of human voices? Why does one group sing great, and the other - mediocre? Let's consider these issues in this article.

Choir - a gathering of singing people

Before we understand what a chorus is as a concept, we note that it is an amazing and excellent invention of mankind. The choral movement has been gaining momentum in recent years. A huge number of people come to collectives, new ones constantly appear, festivals and all kinds of competitions are held more and more often. Singing is the most accessible activity for both a child and an elderly person who has absolute or relative pitch, or strives to learn choral singing. There are many amateur groups where you do not need to pay fees and purchase an expensive instrument, you just need to protect your voice and be able to use it correctly.

What is a choir? Definition in the dictionaries of Dahl, Ozhegov and Ushakov

In the explanatory dictionary of Vladimir Dahl, this is a collection of singers for consonant singing. A meeting of a certain circle of musicians for collective music. There is a female choir, male and mixed. Horischa - three hundred voices. Choral singing is defined in Dahl's dictionary as amicable and collaborative.

In the explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov, this is an ensemble or some group of singers. The four-part choir consists of various singing voices.

In the explanatory dictionary of Ushakov, in ancient Greek drama, a chorus is a group of people participating in a performance with singing or dancing. He also deciphers the choir as a group of singers who perform mainly vocal music. Choir varieties according to Ushakov:

• the choir of the opera house;
• a choir of musicians;
• choir of balalaika players;
• female;
• male;
• church.

This word also refers to a piece of music where each vocal part is performed by several voices.

That is what a chorus is as a definition in the explanatory dictionaries of venerable connoisseurs of the Russian language.

Why does a man need a choir?

Singing in the choir is a pleasure. A singing person is the least susceptible to stress and depression, since vocals have a beneficial effect on him and a kind of psychotherapeutic effect.

High-quality choral singing largely depends on correct breathing, which also has a positive effect on the health of the singers. Choral music improves the work of the cardiovascular system, increases the tone of the brain. In Australia, qualified medical professionals have discovered that singing can improve the health of people with joint and spinal problems. Another interesting fact is that choral singing is gradually being introduced into prevention and treatment programs in various medical institutions. So, for example, in one of the antenatal clinics in Saratov, chanting by pregnant women is practiced, which positively affects both the expectant mother herself and her fetus. Choral singing is also intended for children - it develops them physically and spiritually.

What is a choir in music?

Professional musicians know that it is not so easy to achieve the perfect sound of a choir, the composition of which is sometimes surprising in its size. In musical institutions of the III and IV levels of accreditation there is a specialty "Choral conducting", where one of the most important disciplines for the future professional is studied - "Choral studies". The main goal is to achieve the integrity and solidity of all parties, so that the sound of the ensemble is associated with a single living organism, the harmonious and harmonious sound of which would bring true pleasure.

Thus, the choir is a kind of collection of singing people, the ideal sonority of which is achieved through ensemble unity with a verified system and artistically developed nuances. Choral groups can consist of amateurs, whose voice sometimes sounds as good as real professionals.

From arafans to the floor, kokoshniks and song art. Russian folk choral groups with the title of "academic" - as a recognition of the highest level of stage mastery. More details about the way of the "populists" to the big stage - Natalia Letnikova.

Kuban Cossack Choir

200 years of history. The songs of the Cossacks are either a horse march, or a walk on foot under "Marusya, one, two, three ..." with a valiant whistle. 1811 is the year of the creation of the first choir group in Russia. A living historical monument that has carried the Kuban history and singing traditions of the Cossack army through the centuries. The spiritual enlightener of the Kuban, Archpriest Kirill Rossinsky and the choir director Grigory Grechinsky, stood at the origins. Since the middle of the nineteenth century, the collective not only participated in divine services, but also gave secular concerts in the spirit of a reckless Cossack freelancer and, according to Yesenin, “merry longing”.

Choir named after Mitrofan Pyatnitsky

A collective that has proudly called itself "peasant" for a century. And let professional artists perform on the stage today, and not the usual vociferous peasants-Great Russians from Ryazan, Voronezh and other provinces, the choir presents a folk song in amazing harmony and beauty. Every performance is as admirable as it was a hundred years ago. The first concert of the peasant choir took place in the hall of the Noble Assembly. The audience, including Rachmaninov, Chaliapin, Bunin, left after the performance shocked.

Northern Folk Choir

A simple rural teacher Antonina Kolotilova lived in Veliky Ustyug. She gathered fans of folk songs for handicrafts. On a February evening, they sewed linen for the orphanage: “The smooth, soft light falling from the lightning lamp created a special comfort. And outside the window, the February bad weather was raging, the wind whistled in the chimney, thundered the boards on the roof, threw snow flakes out the window. This discrepancy between the warmth of a cozy room and the howl of a snowstorm made me feel a little melancholy. And suddenly a song sounded, sad, drawn-out ... " This is how the northern tune sounds - 90 years. Already from the stage.

Ryazan Folk Choir named after Evgeny Popov

Yesenin's songs. In the homeland of the main singer of the Russian land, his poems are sung. Melodic, piercing, exciting. Where a white birch is not a tree, or a girl, frozen on the high bank of the Oka. And the poplar is certainly "silvery and light". The choir was created on the basis of the rural folklore ensemble of the village of Bolshaya Zhuravinka, which had performed since 1932. The Ryazan Choir was lucky. The head of the ensemble, Evgeny Popov, himself wrote music to the verses of a fellow countryman who had an amazing sense of beauty. They sing these songs - as if they are telling about their life. Warm and gentle.

Siberian folk choir

Choir, ballet, orchestra, children's studio. The Siberian choir is multifaceted and in tune with the frosty wind. The concert program "Yamshitsky Skaz" is based on the musical, song and choreographic material of the Siberian Territory, as well as many scenic sketches of the collective. The creativity of Siberians was seen in 50 countries of the world - from Germany and Belgium to Mongolia and Korea. They sing about what they live. First in Siberia, and then throughout the country. How did it come about with Nikolai Kudrin's song "Bread is the Head of Everything", which was first performed by the Siberian Choir.

Voronezh Russian Folk Choir named after Konstantin Massalitinov

Songs in the front-line in those difficult days, when, it would seem, there is no time for creativity. The Voronezh Choir appeared in the working village of Anna at the height of the Great Patriotic War - in 1943. The first to hear the songs of the new team were in the military units. The first big concert - with tears in his eyes - took place in Voronezh, liberated from the Germans. The repertoire includes lyric songs and ditties that are known and loved in Russia. Including thanks to the most famous soloist of the Voronezh Choir - Maria Mordasova.

Volga Folk Choir named after Pyotr Miloslavov

“The steppe wind walks on the stage of the Châtelet Theater and brings us the aroma of original songs and dances”,- wrote the French newspaper L'Umanite in 1958. Samara-town presented the song heritage of the Volga region to the French. Performer - Volga Folk Choir, created by the decision of the Government of the RSFSR in 1952 by Pyotr Miloslavov. Unhurried and emotional life along the banks of the great Volga and on stage. Ekaterina Shavrina began her career in the team. The Volga Choir performed the song "Snow White Cherry" for the first time.

Omsk folk choir

Bear with balalaika. The emblem of the renowned collective is well known both in Russia and abroad. "Love and pride of the Siberian land", as the team of critics dubbed it on one of their foreign trips. “The Omsk Folk Choir cannot be called only a restorer and keeper of an old folk song. He himself is a living embodiment of folk art of our days ",- wrote the British The Daily Telegraph. The repertoire is based on Siberian songs recorded by the founder of the group Elena Kalugina half a century ago and vivid pictures from life. For example, the "Winter Siberian Fun" suite.

Ural folk choir

Performances at the fronts and in hospitals. The Urals not only provided the country with metal, but also raised the fighting spirit with whirlwind dances and round dances, the richest folklore material of the Ural land. Under the Sverdlovsk Philharmonic, amateur groups from the surrounding villages of Izmodenovo, Pokrovskoe, Katarach, Laya united. "Our genre is alive", - they say in the team today. And to preserve this life is considered the main task. Like the famous Ural "Semera". "Drobushki" and "drumsticks" have been on the scene for 70 years. Not a dance, but a dance. Eager and daring.

Orenburg folk choir

A downy shawl as part of a stage costume. Fluffy lace intertwined with folk songs and in a round dance - as part of the life of the Orenburg Cossacks. The collective was created in 1958 to preserve the unique culture and rituals that exist "on the edge of vast Russia, along the banks of the Urals." Each performance is like a performance. They perform not only the songs that the people put together. Even dancing has a literary basis. “When the Cossacks Cry” is a choreographic composition based on the story of Mikhail Sholokhov from the life of the villagers. However, every song or dance has its own story.

Gregorian Church Choir

Choir of the Perm College of Music

Most often the choir includes four choral parts: soprano, alto, tenor, bass. But the number of parties is, in principle, not limited, since each of these main parties can be divided into several relatively independent parties (this phenomenon is called a division among musicians): in Vasily Titov's partisan concerts, there are 12 or more choral parts; "Stabat Mater" by Krzysztof Penderecki was written for a triple choir of 4 voices each (a total of 12 choral parts).

The choir can sing with or without instruments. Singing unaccompanied is called a cappella singing. Instrumental accompaniment can include almost any instrument, one or more, or an entire orchestra. As a rule, at rehearsals of the choir, in the process of learning a piece written for a choir and orchestra, the orchestra is temporarily replaced by a piano; the piano is also used as an auxiliary instrument in the practice of a cappella choral pieces.

History

Ancient Greek choirs, used during tragedies, were one of the first singing groups. But unlike modern drama and theater, he himself was not a character, but played the role of public opinion, which determined the choice of other characters. The ancient Greek choir always sang with one voice, either unaccompanied, or to the guitar, which also played in unison with the choir.

Early Christianity adopted the ancient tradition, and until the X-XII centuries the choirs sang only in unison or octave. Then began the division of voices into low and high and the emergence of different parties for them. Until the 15th century (and in church chants - until the 17th century), the choir consisted only of men (with the exception of the nuns' choirs).

Choir types

Under the name choir type understand the characteristics of the performing collective according to the constituent groups of singing voices. It is known that singing voices are divided into three groups - women, men and children. Thus, a choir that brings together the voices of one group is called homogeneous, and a choir that has combinations of female (or children's) and male voices or singing voices of all groups is called mixed. In performing practice, four types of choirs are widespread: women, men, children, mixed.

• mixed choir(the most common type of choir) - consists of female and male voices. The female voices make up the sopranos and altos parts, the male voices make up the tenors and bass parts. Within each part there is usually a division into first (higher) and second (lower) voices: sopranos I and II, altos I and II, tenors I and II, basses I and II;
• choir of boys and youth- consists of the same four main parts as mixed, but the soprano part is performed by boys called treble, the alto part is performed by low boy voices; the parts of tenors and basses in such a choir, as well as in a mixed one, are performed by men;
• male choir- consists of tenors and basses, with the division of each part into two voices: the first (high) and second (low) tenors and the first and second basses. The part of the first tenors can be expanded at the expense of countertenor singers who sing (in falsetto) an even higher part, which is outside the usual male vocal range in tessiture;
• female choir- consists of sopranos and altos, with the division of each part into two voices: the first and second sopranos and the first and second altos;
• children's choir- consists of two parts: soprano (treble) and altos, sometimes of three - soprano (treble) I and II, and altos; other options are also possible.

The minimum number of singers in one choir part is 3.

From the point of view of the manner of singing, there are:

• academic choirs- singing in an academic manner. The academic manner of singing is based on the principles and criteria of musical creativity and performance, developed by the professional musical culture and traditions of the centuries-old experience of the opera and chamber genres;
• folk choirs- singing in a folk manner. The genre features of Russian folk choirs are: reliance on local or regional traditions of everyday folk singing; use of natural register sounding of voices; sub-voice-polyphonic chant of the song as the basis of choral polyphony.

Choral singing

By the number of participants, they are distinguished:

• vocal and choral ensemble- from 12 to 20 participants;
• chamber choirs- from 20 to 30-50 participants;
• middle choirs- from 40 to 60-70 participants;
• big choirs- from 70 to 120 participants;
• combined choirs- up to 1000 participants, gather for a while from different teams. Such compositions have the status of “happening-performance” and do not belong to the performing arts per se, as they are rather a propaganda and educational direction.

Choirs can have different statuses, for example, professional, amateur (amateur), church and educational choirs.

see also

Notes (edit)

Literature

• Anisimov A.I. Conductor-choirmaster. Creative-methodical notes. - L .: "Music", 1976. - 160 p.
• Asafiev B.V. About choral art: Sat. articles / Comp. and comments. A. Pavlova-Arbenina.- L .: Muzyka, 1980.- 216 p.
• Vinogradov K. Work on diction in the choir. - M .: Muzyka, 1967.
• Dmitrevskaya K. Russian Soviet choral music. Issue 1.- M .: Soviet composer, 1974.
• Dmitrevsky G. Choir studies and choir management - Muzgiz, 1957.
• Evgrafov, Yu. A. An elementary theory of manual choir management. - M .: Music, 1995
• Egorov, A.A. Theory and practice of working with the choir / A. A. Egorov. - L.; Moscow: Gosmuzizdat, 1951.