Choir

A choir is a musical ensemble composed of vocalists, which typically include a combination of the following voice parts: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass

Types of Choirs by Vocal Parts:

Mixed Choirs – Typically follow a standard SATB arrangement; often times the vocal parts are further divided SSAATTBB.
Male Choirs – Most common in current use is TTBB, though some traditional choirs utilize SATB parts for men, or ATBB with a countertenor.
Female Choirs – Usually SSAA if four parts, or SSA if three.
Children’s Choirs – Often unison, two part SA, or three part SSA. Some are mixed, while others only include boys.

Types of Choirs by Organization:

Church Choirs – Sacred choral music being some of the first choral music, still plays an important role in services. Prominent church choirs include the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
School Choirs – With the support of the arts in the United States, school choirs are common as a curricular part of the school day.
University/Collegiate Choirs – Popular in both large research institutions and smaller private colleges adhering to the Lutheran choir model.
Community Choirs – Citizens of all ages gather in community choirs for lifelong music-making.
Professional Choirs – Professional, auditioned groups that perform frequently for a variety of audiences.

Accompaniment:

Choral music is often accompanied by small groups of wind and string instruments (unless the choir is quite large, instrumental groups often need to temper their dynamics for risk of overpowering the ensemble). Most choral music that is accompanied uses a piano accompaniment that can add harmonic depth and help center the pitch of the ensemble. Older, more experienced choirs also sing unaccompanied music, a tradition known as a cappella.

Below are some additional articles related to various choral groups and vocal techniques: