Choirbook

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large, often ornate manuscript containing the musical notation and lyrics for choral performances used during religious services or ceremonies
2. A bound collection of sacred or choral music specifically designed for use by a choir in liturgical or concert settings, typically handwritten or printed in a format suitable for group singing
3. A folio of musical scores and text arranged for a choir to follow during worship or special events, usually consisting of multiple parts for various vocal ranges and presented in a communal reading format

Etymology: "Choirbook" is a plain compound of "choir" and "book," and its history is simply that of its two parts joined together. "Choir" came into English from Old French "cuer" and ultimately from Latin "chorus," the same root that gives us "chorus" in its musical sense, while "book" is an ancient native English word. Put together, the term names a large volume of sheet music, typically written out so that several singers could read from the same copy at once, often at a lectern in a church or cathedral.

Synonyms: chantbook, hymnal, antiphonary, psalter, service book