Singing is most probably the oldest musical activity. Even in the most archaic cultures the singer had a special, defined position. In early singing there are three classes of sound: the first is called logogenic, in which words form the basis for the wavering musical…. African music: Multipart singing.

Singing was associated with all forms of literature and with dance. The ode, the dithyramb (a choral tribute to Bacchus and the forerunner of tragedy), and the drama all employed singers who moved to the rhythm of the music. By 500 B.C. ventriloquism had been described, and both choruses and solo voices were being used in drama.