Choral reading involves groups reading text aloud together in coordinated ways. It has three main purposes - learning, performance, and enjoyment. There are different types of choral reading including refrain, unison, antiphon, cumulative, solo lines, and line around. An example is provided of arranging the poem "The Dream Keeper" for antiphon choral reading. Groups are then tasked with arranging another poem, "The Song of Wandering Aengus," for choral performance.

1. Choral Reading
Mary Ann Reilly

2. What is Choral Reading?
1. Choral reading is simply reading in unison
under the direction of a leader.
2. Choral speaking offers genuine opportunity
for problem solving as each group works out
its own presentation.
3. It has three major purposes:
– learning
– performance
– enjoyment

3. Types of Choral Reading
1. Refrain is one of the most common forms of choral speaking. One person reads the
narrative portion of the text while the rest of the class joins in the refrain.
1. Unison calls for the whole group to read the material together. Additional sound effects
might be incorporated.
1. Antiphon calls for the class to be divided into two or more groups, with each group being
responsible for a certain part of the selection.
1. Cumulative choral reading or speaking refers to a method where groups of voices or
individual voices are added to or subtracted from the choral reading, depending on the
message or the meaning communicated by the selection.
1. Solo Lines is a type of choral reading where individuals read specific lines in appropriate
places throughout the group activity.
1. Line Around is more solo work where each line is taken by a different person in the group.

4. Example of Choral Reading Script
Speaker(s) Text
“The Dream Antiphonal 1 Bring me all
Keeper” Antiphonal 2 of your dreams,
ALL you dreamers,
Antiphonal 1 Bring me all
By Langston
Antiphonal 2 your heart melodies
Hughes Antiphonal 1 that I may wrap them
Antiphonal 2 in a blue cloud cloth,
Speakers 1, 2 Away
Speakers 3, 4 from the too-rough
ALL fingers of the world

5. Task
1. Working with your group, chorally arrange the
poem, “The Song of Wandering Aengus” for
performance by your group. As you work, please
consider how your arrangement helps an
audience to comprehend the text. For example,
consider the number of voices and gender of
those voices that you would want to say a word,
line, and/or stanza as you work through the
poem.
2. Practice performing the text.
3. Chorally perform the text.