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Chorale Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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chorale

[kəˈrɑːl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

music

A hymn or psalm sung to a traditional or harmonized tune.

Synonyms

anthem, hymn, psalm.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
chorale

Often used in a religious setting to describe a type of hymn or a choir piece, especially common in Protestant traditions.

  • The choir performed a beautiful Bach chorale during the Sunday service.
  • The chorale created a solemn atmosphere for the church ceremony.
hymn

A religious song or poem of praise to God or a deity, typically sung during religious services.

  • The congregation sang a traditional hymn during the morning service.
  • She wrote a new hymn that became popular in the local church.
psalm

Refers to a sacred song or hymn, particularly those found in the Book of Psalms in the Bible, often sung or read during religious services.

  • They read a psalm every night before bed.
  • The choir sang a psalm in beautiful harmony.
anthem

Typically used to describe a patriotic song associated with a country, or a song that represents a group or cause.

  • Everyone stood up to sing the national anthem before the game started.
  • The new movement's anthem inspired many to join their cause.

Examples of usage

  • The choir performed a beautiful chorale during the church service.
  • She played the chorale on the organ with great skill.
Context #2 | Noun

music

A harmonic composition intended for performance by a choir or congregation.

Synonyms

choir piece, harmonic composition.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
chorale

See above 'chorale'.
choir piece

A general term used to refer to any piece of music written for a choir, regardless of its style or religious association. Suitable for both secular and sacred music contexts.

  • The choir will perform a new choir piece by a contemporary composer.
  • In the concert, they included a choir piece that highlighted the versatility of vocal harmony.
harmonic composition

Refers to any piece of music with a focus on harmony, not necessarily limited to choir music. Can be used to discuss music theory and compositions focusing on harmonic progressions.

  • The harmonic composition of this piece is exceptionally rich and complex.
  • Students analyzed the harmonic composition of Beethoven's symphonies in class.

Examples of usage

  • The chorale was the highlight of the concert.
  • They sang the chorale in four-part harmony.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'chorale'

The word 'chorale' originated from the German word 'Choral', which means a hymn or a song of praise. It has its roots in the religious musical traditions of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Chorales were often sung by congregations in churches and later evolved into more complex harmonic compositions performed by choirs. Today, chorales are still an integral part of choral music and continue to be sung in religious and secular settings.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,839, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.