medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
What happened if the Dean or (as certainly happened at Lincoln on occasions)
the Bishop presided in the choir? Is the leading celebrant of the Mass
different from the ruler of the choir?
yours in abject ignorance
Rosemary Hayes
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Briggs" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 12:01 AM
Subject: Re: [M-R] Rulers of the Choir
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> Terrill Heaps wrote:
>>
>> If there is only one Ruler of the Choir, he is the Precentor. If two,
>> the Precentor and his deputy, the Succentor. Depending upon the grade
>> of a feast, (Simple, Semi-Double, Double, etc.) the choral
>> complexities of the music may warrant extra deputies to the
>> Precentor. Of course, the size of the Schola is a factor, as is the
>> age make-up. (If there are young boys, there would be a certain
>> "discipline" aspect.") As you know, the Precentor and the Succentor
>> are on opposite sides of the Choir (area). If both the Precentor and
>> the Succentor each had two assistants, there would be six Rulers of
>> the Choir. There is always an even number, unless there is no
>> Succentor, in which case there is just the Precentor, along as the
>> Ruler of the Choir.
>
> This was not exactly the practice at Salisbury Cathedral in the Medieval
> period. The two or four rulers stood 'in medio chori' at desks between
> the
> two sets of stalls. All rulers were chosen by the Precentor. It depended
> on the grading of the Feast whether principal and secondary rulers were
> canons or hebdomadaries, and whether of the highest or of the second form.
> At Mass on principal and major double feasts the Precentor acted as a
> fifth
> ruler, standing with the other four and taking part in the ruling; on
> other
> double feasts he supervised the ruling from his stall.
>
> When the choir was not ruled, the Precentor or his deputy (the current
> principal ruler?) presided over the service from his stall.
>
> (The two sides of the choir at Salisbury are 'decanis' and 'cantoris',
> because the Dean sits on the south side and the Precentor sits on the
> north.)
>
> John Briggs
>
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