The Greek Chorus Was the Audience on Stage
A chorus is a group singing together, or the repeated part of a song. In Greek theatre it did something quite different.
A chorus is a group who sing together, and the repeated section of a song. In Greek drama it was a whole dramatic device: a group who commented on the action, questioned the characters and spoke for the community. They stood between the play and the audience, saying what an onlooker might think.
- A group of singers. *The chorus entered.*
- A repeated section. *Sing the chorus.*
- A simultaneous utterance. *A chorus of complaints.*
- In chorus — together. *They answered in chorus.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | chorus | A four-part chorus. |
| Plural | choruses | Two choruses. |
| Related | choir | A church choir. |
| Related | choral | A choral work. |
| Related | choreography | Original choreography. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The chorus comes after the verse.Song structure.
- A chorus of disapproval greeted it.Many voices at once.
- The Greek chorus commented on the action.Theatre history.
Song structure terms
- Verse — the changing narrative section
- Chorus — the repeated section carrying the hook
- Bridge — a contrasting passage, usually once
- Refrain — a repeated line, shorter than a chorus
- Middle eight — the British term for a bridge
From Latin *chorus*, from Greek *khoros*, a dance or a band of dancers and singers — the same root as *choreography*.
Chorus or choir?
A choir usually sings church or classical music. A chorus is the broader term and covers theatre and popular music too.
Are chorus and choreography related?
Yes. The Greek *khoros* meant dance as well as song, and choreography is the writing of dance.