Intonation and tuning as fundamental elements in choral practice according to the Eastern European choral school

Abstract

The article examines work on intonation and tuning as key factors in choral performance, using the example of the Eastern European choral school. The analysis covers the historical background of liturgical and folk singing traditions, which have shaped a specific approach to intonation in ensemble practice. The concept of zonal (or spatial) tuning is discussed, along with the methods of Konstantin Pigrov and Pavel Chesnokov, which are based on a functional and imaginative perception of pitch. “Purity of intonation is the cornerstone upon which the choral art is based – without it, there can be no question of creating a choir of genuine artistic value” – Konstantin Pigrov, Kierowanie chórem [Conducting a Choir].