choral
Relating to or performed by a choir or chorus.
In Depth
Choral music is performed by a group of singers, typically divided into soprano, alto, tenor, and bass (SATB) sections. The tradition stretches from medieval plainchant through Renaissance polyphony to modern compositions, making it one of the oldest continuous forms of musical practice.
A choir can range from a small chamber ensemble of 12 voices to a full symphonic chorus of 200 or more. Major choral works include Bach's Mass in B Minor, Handel's Messiah, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Community and church choirs remain one of the most accessible ways for people to participate actively in music.
The oldest surviving piece of choral music with a known composer is Sumer Is Icumen In from around 1260, a cheerful English round about the arrival of summer.