Archive:Voluntary (music): Difference between revisions
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In music a '''voluntary''' is a piece of music, usually for an organ, that is played as part of a church service. In English-speaking countries, the music played before and after the service is often called a 'voluntary', whether or not it is so titled. | In music a '''voluntary''' is a piece of music, usually for an organ, that is played as part of a church service. In English-speaking countries, the music played before and after the service is often called a 'voluntary', whether or not it is so titled. | ||
The title 'voluntary' was often used by English composers during the late [[Renaissance music|Renaissance]], [[Baroque music|Baroque]], and [[Classical period (music)|Classical]] periods. Originally, the term was used for a piece of organ music that was free in style, and was intended to sound improvised (the word voluntary in general means "proceeding from the will or from one's own choice or consent").<ref>{{cite web|title=voluntary|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voluntary|website=Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary|publisher=Merriam-Webster|access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> This probably grew out of the practice of church organists improvising after a service. The style is in almost complete contrast to the liturgical [[chorale prelude|chorale preludes]] of J S Bach and others, where the | The title 'voluntary' was often used by English composers during the late [[Renaissance music|Renaissance]], [[Baroque music|Baroque]], and [[Classical period (music)|Classical]] periods. Originally, the term was used for a piece of organ music that was free in style, and was intended to sound improvised (the word voluntary in general means "proceeding from the will or from one's own choice or consent").<ref>{{cite web|title=voluntary|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voluntary|website=Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary|publisher=Merriam-Webster|access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> This probably grew out of the practice of church organists improvising after a service. The style is in almost complete contrast to the liturgical [[chorale prelude|chorale preludes]] of J S Bach and others, where the composition is almost invariably based round the theme of a seasonal chorale (Lutheran hymn). | ||
Later, the English voluntary began to develop into a more definite form, though it has never been strictly defined. Many composers wrote voluntaries, including [[Orlando Gibbons]], [[John Blow]], [[Henry Purcell]], [[William Boyce (composer)|William Boyce]], [[John Stanley (composer)|John Stanley]], [[Handel]] and [[Thomas Arne]]. Often, when English music printers published continental organ music, they would, by default, title the works as 'voluntaries', though the word was not used by composers in continental Europe. | Later, the English voluntary began to develop into a more definite form, though it has never been strictly defined. Many composers wrote voluntaries, including [[Orlando Gibbons]], [[John Blow]], [[Henry Purcell]], [[William Boyce (composer)|William Boyce]], [[John Stanley (composer)|John Stanley]], [[Handel]] and [[Thomas Arne]]. Often, when English music printers published continental organ music, they would, by default, title the works as 'voluntaries', though the word was not used by composers in continental Europe. | ||