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choral

 - 4 dictionary results

cho⋅ral

[adj. kawr-uhl, kohr-; n. kuh-ral, kaw-, koh-, kawr-uhl, kohr-]
–adjective
1. of a chorus or a choir: She heads our new choral society.
2. sung by, adapted for, or containing a chorus or a choir.
–noun
3. chorale.

Origin:
1580–90; < ML chorālis, equiv. to chor(us) chorus + -ālis -al 1


cho⋅ral⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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cho·ral   (kôr'əl, kōr'-)   
adj.  
  1. Of or relating to a chorus or choir.

  2. Performed or written for performance by a chorus.


[Medieval Latin chorālis, from chorus, choral dance, from Latin; see chorus.]
cho'ral·ly adv.
cho·rale also cho·ral   (kə-rāl', -räl')   
n.  
  1. A Protestant hymn melody.

  2. A harmonized hymn, especially one for organ.

  3. A chorus or choir.


[German, short for Choralgesang, choral song, translation of Medieval Latin cantus chorālis; see choral.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

choral

metrical hymn tune associated in common English usage with the Lutheran church in Germany. From early in the Reformation, chorales were to be sung by the congregation during the Protestant liturgy. Unison singing was the rule of the reformed churches, both in Germany and in other countries. Early polyphonic (multivoiced) versions may have been intended for a choir singing only the melody while the full version was played on the organ. In later polyphonic arrangements the melody shifted gradually to the treble line from its original position in the tenor

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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