# Chorus Musicus Köln

> choir in Cologne, Germany

**Wikidata**: [Q6568078](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6568078)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chorus-musicus-koln

## Summary
Chorus Musicus Köln is a choir based in Cologne, Germany, founded in 1985 by Christoph Spering. The ensemble performs choral music and maintains an international presence across numerous library catalogs, music databases, and academic repositories. It is documented in major authority systems including the Library of Congress, National Library of Israel, and MusicBrainz.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1985 by Christoph Spering
- Located in Cologne, Germany
- Classified as a choir (instance of vocal ensemble/organization)
- Native name: Chorus Musicus Köln
- Official website: http://www.musikforum-koeln.de/chorus-musicus-koeln/?lang=en
- Library of Congress Authority ID: nr94009748
- VIAF ID: 310502123
- ISNI: 0000000100978007
- MusicBrainz Artist ID: 6f59dc73-dac1-437d-9e79-05eb4c98be69
- Discogs Artist ID: 2492339
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007270495505171
- Yale LUX ID: group/25e00864-6e2c-4140-9daa-f8786fd890c5
- CiNII Research ID: 1140563741762668032
- NACSIS CAT Author ID: DA11441416
- Muziekweb Performer ID: M00000241690
- Netherlands CR AUT ID: xx0054208 (labeled as "Chorus Musicus")
- Wikipedia presence in Hebrew language (1 sitelink)

## FAQs

### Who founded Chorus Musicus Köln?
Chorus Musicus Köln was founded by Christoph Spering in 1985. Spering established the choir in Cologne, Germany, where it remains based.

### Where is Chorus Musicus Köln located?
The choir is based in Cologne, Germany. Its official website is hosted through musikforum-koeln.de, indicating a connection to the Cologne music forum.

### What type of ensemble is Chorus Musicus Köln?
Chorus Musicus Köln is classified as a choir, which is an ensemble of singers performing choral music. Choirs are a subclass of vocal ensembles and organizations.

### In which international catalog systems is Chorus Musicus Köln documented?
The choir appears in numerous authoritative databases including the Library of Congress (nr94009748), VIAF (310502123), ISNI (0000000100978007), MusicBrainz, Discogs, National Library of Israel, Yale LUX system, CiNII Research (Japan), NACSIS CAT, and Muziekweb (Netherlands).

## Why It Matters
Chorus Musicus Köln represents a significant presence in the German choral landscape, founded during a period of renewed interest in historically informed performance practice. Its founding by Christoph Spering in 1985 positioned it within Cologne's rich musical tradition. The choir's extensive documentation across international library and music catalog systems—including authority files in the United States, Europe, Israel, and Japan—demonstrates its recognized standing in the global classical music community. This broad catalog presence indicates that the ensemble has generated sufficient scholarly and performance interest to warrant indexing by major bibliographic and musicological repositories worldwide.

## Notable For
- Founded by Christoph Spering, a conductor associated with historically informed performance practice
- Extensive international catalog presence spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia
- Recognition by the Library of Congress with a dedicated authority record (nr94009748)
- Presence in academic research systems including CiNII Research and Yale University's LUX linked data platform
- Documentation in multiple music industry databases including MusicBrainz, Discogs, and Muziekweb
- Nearly four decades of continuous operation since 1985

## Body

### Founding and Leadership
Chorus Musicus Köln was established in 1985 under the leadership of Christoph Spering, who founded the ensemble. The choir operates as a vocal ensemble based in Cologne, Germany, a city with a historically rich musical tradition. The native designation "Chorus Musicus Köln" reflects both its German location and its Latin-influenced naming convention, which is common among European choral ensembles emphasizing classical or sacred repertoire.

### Organizational Classification
The ensemble is classified as a choir, which places it within the broader category of musical groups. As a choir, it functions as an ensemble of singers performing choral music, a classification that encompasses groups ranging from small chamber ensembles to large symphonic choruses. Choirs are recognized as subclasses of both vocal ensembles and organizations, operating under the direction of a choir director or conductor.

### International Documentation and Authority Records
Chorus Musicus Köln maintains a substantial presence across global library and music information systems. The ensemble holds a Library of Congress Authority ID (nr94009748), establishing its recognition in the United States' primary bibliographic authority system. Its Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) identifier is 310502123, linking it to a cooperative system that connects authority records across national libraries worldwide.

The International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) 0000000100978007 provides the ensemble with a unique global identifier used across publishing and research sectors. In academic research contexts, the choir is indexed in Japan's CiNII Research system (ID: 1140563741762668032) and the NACSIS CAT author database (DA11441416), indicating scholarly interest in East Asian research communities.

### Music Industry Database Presence
Within the music industry and recording catalog sphere, Chorus Musicus Köln appears in multiple specialized databases. Its MusicBrainz Artist ID (6f59dc73-dac1-437d-9e79-05eb4c98be69) places it in an open music encyclopedia used by numerous streaming and music management applications. The Discogs Artist ID 2492339 documents its presence in the world's largest user-built music database and marketplace. The Muziekweb Performer ID M00000241690 connects it to the Dutch music documentation system operated by the Central Discotek Rotterdam.

### Linked Data and Institutional Connections
The Yale LUX ID (group/25e00864-6e2c-4140-9daa-f8786fd890c5) indicates the choir's inclusion in linked open data systems associated with Yale University's cultural heritage collections. The National Library of Israel J9U ID (987007270495505171) demonstrates documentation in Israeli library systems, potentially reflecting scholarly or cultural connections to Jewish musical traditions or repertoire performed by the ensemble.

The Netherlands' Collective Library Automation System maintains a record (xx0054208) with the variant label "Chorus Musicus," indicating how the ensemble is referenced in Dutch library catalogs.

### Online Presence and Digital Footprint
The choir maintains an official web presence at http://www.musikforum-koeln.de/chorus-musicus-koeln/?lang=en, hosted through the Cologne music forum platform. This subdomain structure suggests an affiliation with or presentation through Musikforum Köln, a significant cultural institution in the city. The URL includes an English language parameter, indicating accessibility for international audiences.

Wikipedia coverage of the ensemble exists in Hebrew, representing the choir's sole Wikipedia language edition with a sitelink count of 1. This limited Wikipedia presence contrasts with the broader concept of "choir" as a topic, which has extensive multilingual coverage across 83 sitelinks and translations into numerous languages.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. CiNii Research
3. MusicBrainz