What does Coral Mean?

The concept of coral has several uses. When its etymological root is found in the Greek word korállion, it refers to an anthozoan coelenteric animal that forms colonies, in which the specimens are linked to each other through a calcareous polybutyrene.

According to abbreviationfinder.org, coelenterates are species with radiate symmetry that have a single gastrovascular cavity, which has a hole that functions as an anus and as a mouth. As for the anthozoans, they are animals with tentacles that, as adults, attach to the bottom of the sea.

Corals, therefore, live attached to the seabed. They generally feed on the photosynthetic algae that reside in their tissues, although they can also capture small fish and plankton with their tentacles.

The form of organization of corals is called a polyp. The calcareous structures remain beyond the death of the animals and can end up being colonized by other corals, which in turn create new structures. Thus, over time, coral reefs are formed, which can even emerge from the water due to their large size.

Coral, on the other hand, may come from the Latin chorus. In this case, the term refers to what is linked to a choir: a group of individuals who sing in concert and simultaneously.

A choral group, in this way, is made up of several singers with voices belonging to different strings. Choral musical compositions, meanwhile, are those intended to be performed by various voices.

In a choir we find several types of voices that are grouped into strings and, within each one of them, they are divided according to their tessitura (the interval of notes in which the singer is able to move with enough ease and dexterity to perform a work properly and without damaging your vocal cords).

Among the most important strings of a choral group are the following:

* soprano: it is the voice located in the highest area, and usually belongs to a woman or a child. The normal register of a soprano is around two octaves, beginning with the fourth C of the piano and going up to the fifth A, although some singers have considerably wider ranges. In a choir, the soprano is usually in charge of the main melodies;

* mezzo -soprano: is the female voice that is directly below the soprano. It should be noted that this string is not usually distinguished in mixed choral groups, but in those of women alone;

* contralto: it is the deepest female voice and, curiously, also the rarest. It is so difficult to find a natural contralto that this position in the choirs is usually occupied by mezzo-sopranos or sopranos;

* countertenor: it is a man’s string whose tessitura is located in any of the three exposed so far;

* tenor: this is the highest male voice, with the exception of countertenors;

* baritone: has a vowel extension that is below that of the tenor. In mixed choral groups it is located on the “bass” string;

* Bass: It is the deepest voice of all.

As mentioned above, in mixed choral groups the strings are not distinguished with such precision, but rather four large groups are formed: sopranos, contraltos (where mezzo-sopranos also enter), tenors and basses (where baritones are located). Each one corresponds to a certain line of song, which when merged with the rest form chords and reproduce the complete work.

When talking about a film or a choral story, finally, reference is made to the fact that it does not have a single protagonist, but that the leading role is collective.

Coral