Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The
Ancient precentors
The chief precentor was the highest position in many
Jewish precentors
Jewish precentors are song or prayer leaders, leading
Christian precentors
A precentor is a member of a church who helps facilitate worship. The role of precentor was carried over from the synagogues into the early Christian church.[2]
Catholic precentors
Ancient era
The term precentor usually described an
, and psalmists (chanters).Middle Ages
In the
In the cathedrals of England, France, Spain, and Germany, a precentor sometimes ranked next to the dean, sometimes next to the
From the fourteenth century the title and dignity were largely handed over to incumbents whose musical knowledge did not fit them for the duties to which the name of precentor owed its origin; the dignities remained, but the duties became obscured. "In France, some chapters retain traces of the dignity of Precentor, and sometimes an archdeacon, sometimes a titular or honorary canon, carrying the baton cantoral, the insignia of his office".
Anglican precentors
A precentor is a person, usually ordained, who is in charge of preparing worship services. This position is usually held in a large church. Most
Traditionally the precentor's
Presbyterian precentors
In Presbyterian churches that worship in the historical fashion (i.e., sing a cappella; see Presbyterian worship), a precentor is a person (man or woman, not necessarily clergy) who leads the singing, often by means of conducting techniques, but sometimes just by singing from amongst the congregation.
Churches that use a call and response method of singing called lining out (used primarily when sufficient numbers of psalm books are unavailable, or the congregation insufficiently literate, as was the case in the black church in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird) are usually led by the precentor, much as with other non-instrumental churches.
Public schools and Cambridge
The title "precentor" is also used at two English public schools, Radley College and Eton College, and a private school in Sri Lanka, S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, to refer to the head of music. These school precentors have no specific religious duties although, as part of their musical function, they may conduct the college chapel choir. At Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and Magdalene College, Cambridge, the precentor's main responsibility is as director of the college choir, which provides music for chapel services.
References
- ^ Wolfson, Dalia (6 July 2021). "The Zogerke's Vort". The Lehrhaus.
- ^ Moseley, Ron. "Yeshua: A Guide to the Real Jesus and the Original Church". Archived from the original on 1998-12-01. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
- Migne, "Dict. de Droit Canon", s.v. Chantre.
- ^ Migne, "Dict. de Jurisprudence", s.v. Grand Chantre.
- ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Precentor". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
- ^ Julie Kerr, Sarah Foot. "Home page of the Cistercians in Yorkshire Project". www.dhi.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
External links
- Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. .