33. Choir, chorus

A group of singers is generally called a choir. Most schools in England have a choir, and there are also many adult choirs, both amateur and professional. Some symphony orchestras have their own choir. Here, however, chorus is sometimes used instead of choir. E.g. the London Philharmonic Orchestra has a choir, and the New Philharmonia Orchestra a chorus, with no difference of meaning.

Chorus is always used in opera. In addition, it has the meaning ‘refrain’ (припев).

e.g. David sang the verses and everybody joined in the chorus.

In chorus is used in the sense of “all together”, with reference to both singing and reading.

34. Types of choir

The following types of choir exist in Britain:

school choir

student/university/college choir

church choir

boys’/girls’ choir

male voice choir

English choirs don’t usually specialise in folk-singing and the expression folk choir is rarely if ever heard. There are folk groups in England, but besides being smaller than most народные хоры (usually 4-6 people), they deliberately avoid training their voices and polishing their performances, often cultivating a spontaneous and unprofessional effect.

Chamber doesn’t apply to choirs. There’s no special expression for a small choir in English. (Хоровая) капелла in the sense of “choir” has no equivalent in English and simply choir or choral society should be used.

A Symphony Orchestra (Instruments and Players)

35. A symphony (or chamber) orchestra consists of several sections, as shown below.

The string section or the strings (струнные)

Note that strings is generally used here instead of string(ed) instruments. However, only the plural can be used in this way. We say, for example:

e.g. The violin is a string(ed) instrument.

In the above type of sentences strings is not used even in the plural.

e.g. The guitar and the balalaika are string(ed) instruments.

The orchestra contains several unusual string(ed) instruments.

violin – скрипка	violinist
viola - альт	viola-player
cello – виолончель	cellist
double-bass – контрабас (pl. double-basses)	double-bass (player)

the woodwind (section) – деревянные духовые

flute – флейта	flautist
clarinet – кларнет	clarinetist
oboe - гобой	oboist
bassoon - фагот	bassoon-player

These are (wood)wind instruments.

the brass (section) – медные духовые

trumpet - труба	trumpeter, trumpet-player
trombone – тромбон	trombonist, trombone-player
French horn - валторна	French horn player

These are brass instruments.

the percussion (section) – ударные

This section consists of various kinds of drums (барабаны), cymbals (тарелки) and other instruments for certain works (e.g. the triangle, the tambourine, etc.)