An orchestra and choir is a group of instrumentalists and singers who collaborate to make music. The music performed by such groups is usually written to highlight the best qualities of both members of the group. This type of group can be found performing spiritually based music in local churches. They may also sing secular and classically themed pieces in local concert halls.
An orchestra’s and choir’s vocalists are frequently divided into four groups. Sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses make up these groups. The melody of the music is sung by the sopranos, who are mostly women. The altos, who are also female, and the tenors, who are male, provide harmony and counter melody. The basses, the final section of men, sing the musical arrangement’s lowest notes.
The choir’s music may be classified as four-part harmony, and it may or may not include instrumental accompaniment. However, music performed by an orchestra and choir together is usually a mix of voices and instruments. This type of group may also choose to have the orchestra perform some instrumental pieces in which the choir is not present.
Brass instruments, woodwinds, strings, and percussion are common among the instrumentalists in an orchestra and choir. The trumpets, trombones, french horns, and saxophones make up the brass section. Flute, oboe, and clarinets are among the woodwind instruments. Violins and cellos make up the stringed instruments, while drums and any other percussive instrument that may be used in a given arrangement, such as chimes, maracas, whistles, and tympani, make up the percussion section. In each instrumental section, there is no limit to how few or how many musicians are required to play.
Music written for orchestra and choir tries to incorporate both types of music — instrumentalist and vocalist — so that both can perform to their full potential. For example, only one or two sections of the orchestra may appear in the opening stanzas of such music, while the choir remains silent. Before giving the melody to the choir in the form of a first verse of song, these instruments are allowed to perform alone. The musical accompaniment may be simple while the choir sings, until the choir rests and the instruments carry the music’s theme.
This type of band can perform a wide range of musical styles. Many churches have an orchestra and choir made up entirely of members from the community. Spiritual anthems, gospel songs, and traditional hymns are frequently performed by such groups. Classical ensembles that perform secular music and may be supported by a local artist endowment are sometimes referred to as an orchestra and chorus.