European Choral Music – Sheet Music & Scores

Choral singing has enchanted young and old alike for centuries, and is undoubtedly one of the most important pillars of European culture. Browse our sheet music and scores, and discover for yourself the magic and beauty of the European choral tradition with Stretta Music today!

Where it all began

The goal of the first choral singing, be it early rhythmic intonations or Gregorian chant, was to take a mystical or spiritual moment and infuse it with song. Although originally linked mainly with religion, choral singing soon began to filter into many other cultural spheres, for example in the very popular plays of ancient Greece.

Polyphony

Amazingly, polyphony has been around since as early as the 9th century. It began with simple two-part compositions, the first part, the "vox principalis", was a Gregorian chant, and the second part, the "vox organalis" moved in parallel fifths or fourths. This strict system slowly relaxed over the centuries, and gradually the third and fourth voices were added, and musical forms like Motets, Masses and Madrigals began to emerge. This polyphonic development led to the birth of the Renaissance Period, and the boundaries of polyphony continued to be pushed and stretched through the Baroque Period.

Instrumental Choral Music

With the beginning of the Baroque Period, the predominance of pure a cappella unaccompanied choral singing began to make way for instrumental choral music. Forms such as Opera, Oratorio and cantatas thrived, and have lost none of their expressive power to this day. In the 19th century the choir became part of the highest form of instrumental music, the Choral Symphony.

Choral Music Today

Today, there are very few musical disciplines which do not feature the choir in some shape or form. The choir is invaluable for Spirituals & Gospel and often features in Film Music. The choir also plays a pivotal role in the theatre, in Opera, Operetta, Musicals and straight plays. The choir can provide solace in a Requiem, or help expresses joy at a Wedding or a Baptism.

Countries with a Choral Tradition

• British – Choral Sheet Music
• French – Choral Sheet Music
• Dutch – Choral Sheet Music
• German – Choral Sheet Music
• Austrian – Choral Sheet Music
• Italian – Choral Sheet Music
• Spanish – Choral Sheet Music
• Belgian – Choral Sheet Music
• Swedish – Choral Sheet Music
• Scandinavian & Baltic – Choral Sheet Music
• Polish – Choral Sheet Music
• Czech – Choral Sheet Music
• Russian & Soviet – Choral Sheet Music
• Hungarian – Choral Sheet Music
• Irish – Choral Sheet Music
• Swiss – Choral Sheet Music
• USA – Choral Sheet Music
• Latin American – Choral Sheet Music