Elements of Choral Work

This week, when discussing curriculum, we discussed the elements of choral work. The Ontario Arts Curriculum (2009) defines choral work as "The reading or reciting of a text by a group. Preparation for a performance may involve interpretation of the text; experimentation with language, rhythm, volume, pace, and different numbers of voices; and rehearsal" (p. 166). The elements of choral work, that we discussed in class are pitch, volume, pace, and timbre. Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of the speakers' voices, whether it is high or deep/low. Volume refers to how loud or soft the speakers' voices are. Pace refers to the speed of which the speakers speak. Lastly, timbre refers to the quality of sound, which can refer to the texture of the speakers' voices or it can also refer to the amount of voices that are being heard at once. The following chart shares some examples of each of the elements of choral work.

ELEMENTS OF CHORAL WORK	Examples
Pitch	High	Neutral	Low
Volume	Loud	Medium	Quiet
Pace	Fast	Medium	Slow
Timbre	Booming	Soft	Squealy