← Music and Dance / 2 Performing
2.2 Choral Music
Music and Dance · Grade 11 · 20 lessons in the design
What this covers
- Genres of choral music: madrigals, masses, hymns, spirituals, choruses from oratorios and operas, anthems and arrangements
- Choral performance techniques: choral tone, blend and balance, diction, intonation, accuracy of pitch, rhythm, tempo and dynamics, and poise
- Performance directions in choral music: tempo, dynamics, articulation and mood
- Selecting, rehearsing and performing a choral work
- Recording and sharing choral performances for peer review
What you will be able to do
- describe genres of choral music
- perform a select genre of choral music applying performance techniques
- perform choral music observing prescribed performance directions
- enjoy performing choral music
Key questions
“How does a specific genre of choral music influence performance technique?”
Lessons
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What choral music is
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizDescribe what choral music is and how a choir performs together.
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The four voice parts
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizIdentify the voice parts of a choir and place each singer in a suitable part.
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The madrigal
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizDescribe the madrigal and the way its texture shapes performance.
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The mass
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizDescribe the mass and name its main sections.
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The hymn
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizDescribe the hymn and sing a verse with clear words and steady tempo.
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The spiritual
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizDescribe the spiritual and perform a call and response phrase.
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Choruses from oratorios and operas
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizCompare a chorus in an oratorio with a chorus in an opera.
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The anthem
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizDescribe the anthem and perform it with a mood that suits the words.
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Choral arrangements
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizDescribe a choral arrangement and explain the duty to credit sources.
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Choral tone
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizProduce a clear, open and unified choral tone.
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Blend and balance
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizBlend the voices and balance the parts in a choral performance.
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Diction
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizSing words clearly with crisp consonants and pure vowels.
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Intonation
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizSing in tune and keep the pitch from drifting sharp or flat.
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Accuracy of pitch, rhythm, tempo and dynamics
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizSing the right notes and rhythms at a steady tempo with matching dynamics.
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Poise
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizShow calm, confident bearing on stage before, during and after singing.
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Performance directions: tempo and dynamics
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizRead and respond to tempo and dynamic markings in choral music.
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Performance directions: articulation and mood
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizUse articulation marks and shape the mood of a choral work.
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Selecting and rehearsing choral music
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizSelect a choral work and rehearse it step by step for performance.
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Performing before an audience
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizPerform a choral work before an audience and recover from mistakes calmly.
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Recording, sharing and reviewing a performance
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizRecord, share and review a choral performance and store it responsibly.