Chorus facts for kids

A chorus is a word with several interesting meanings, mostly related to groups of voices or repeated parts in music. It can refer to a group of singers performing together, a catchy part of a song that repeats, or a special group of performers in ancient Greek plays. Understanding these different meanings helps us appreciate how the word "chorus" is used in music, theatre, and everyday language.

What is a Chorus?

The word "chorus" comes from an ancient Greek word that meant a group of dancers and singers. Over time, its meaning grew to include different ideas. Today, when we talk about a chorus, we might be thinking about people singing together, the most memorable part of a pop song, or even a way that ancient stories were told on stage.

Choirs: Groups of Singers

A choir is a group of people who sing together, often in harmony. Choirs can be found in many places, like schools, churches, and community centers. They perform different types of music, from classical songs to modern pop hits.

How Choirs Work

In a choir, singers are usually divided into different voice parts, such as sopranos (high female voices), altos (low female voices), tenors (high male voices), and basses (low male voices). Each part sings different notes, but when they sing together, their voices blend to create a rich, full sound. A conductor leads the choir, guiding them with hand movements to show when to sing, how loud to be, and how fast to go.

Types of Choirs

There are many kinds of choirs. A school choir might sing at assemblies or local events. A church choir performs during religious services. Some choirs are professional, meaning the singers are paid to perform in concerts and recordings. There are also children's choirs, gospel choirs, and barbershop quartets, which are small choirs of four singers.

The Catchy Part: Song Choruses

In popular music, the chorus is the part of a song that repeats several times. It's usually the most memorable and catchy section, often containing the main message or title of the song. Think of your favorite song – the part you can't stop singing is probably the chorus!

Why Songs Have Choruses

Songwriters use choruses to make a song easy to remember and to highlight its main idea. The chorus often has the same melody and lyrics each time it appears, making it stand out from the verses. Verses usually tell a story or give details, while the chorus sums up the song's theme.

Chorus vs. Other Song Parts

Besides the chorus and verses, songs often have other sections. A bridge is a part that offers a change of pace or a new perspective before the chorus returns. An intro sets the mood at the beginning, and an outro brings the song to an end. The chorus is the heart of the song, bringing everything together.

Ancient Greek Theatre: The Greek Chorus

In ancient Greek plays, the Greek chorus was a group of performers who sang, danced, and sometimes spoke together. They were a very important part of the play, even though they weren't the main characters.

Role of the Greek Chorus

The Greek chorus had several jobs. They could:

• Narrate: Tell parts of the story or explain what was happening.
• Comment: Share their opinions or feelings about the events in the play.
• Represent the community: Act as the voice of the common people, reacting to the actions of the heroes and gods.
• Set the mood: Use their singing and dancing to create different feelings, like sadness, joy, or tension.

How They Performed

The Greek chorus usually stood in a special area called the "orchestra" in the theatre. They moved and sang in unison, often wearing masks. Their performances helped the audience understand the play's themes and emotions, making the stories more powerful. The chorus was a key element in how ancient Greek tragedies and comedies were performed.

Images for kids

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  A robot thinking about the different meanings of "chorus."