ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Chorale composition

Chorale composition is like making up a song for a group of people to sing together. It's kind of like when you and your friends sing a song together, but instead of just making up the words and melody on the spot, you write it down and make it fancy.

When someone wants to compose a chorale, they usually start by thinking of a nice melody. A melody is like the main tune or the main notes that you sing in a song. Think of it like the main part of a coloring page that you want to color in.

Once they have the melody, they decide how they want the other people in the group to sing along with it. This is called the harmony. The harmony is like the different colors you choose to fill in the rest of the coloring page. It adds extra notes and sounds that make the song more interesting and beautiful.

Sometimes, the composer might also add some extra lines to go along with the melody and harmony. These extra lines are called counterpoint. It's like adding extra details to your coloring page that make it look even cooler.

When the composer has all the parts figured out, they write it down on a piece of paper using special music symbols. These symbols look like different shapes, lines, and dots that tell the singers which notes to sing and when to sing them. It's like writing down the instructions for the coloring page so that your friends know what colors to use and where to color.

After the chorale is written down, the composer might make some changes and adjustments to make it sound even better. They might change some of the notes or make parts louder or softer. It's like when you draw something but then decide to add more colors or change some details to make it look just right.

Once the chorale is finished and the composer is happy with it, they can share it with other people. They might teach it to a choir or a group of singers who will then practice it and perform it for everyone to hear. It's like when you show your friends and family the coloring page you made and they think it's amazing!

So, chorale composition is like making up a special song for a group of people to sing together, and it involves creating a beautiful melody, adding harmonies and counterpoints, writing it down using music symbols, and then sharing it with others to enjoy.