Cantoris

Cantoris (Latin: "of the cantor"; /kænˈtɔːrɪs/) is the side of a church choir occupied by the Cantor. In English churches this is typically the choir stalls on the north side of the chancel,^[1] although there are some notable exceptions, such as Durham Cathedral, Ely Cathedral, Carlisle Cathedral and Southwell Minster. The opposite side is known as decani, which is where the dean sat.^[2] The abbreviations "Dec." and "Can." are used. ^[3][4]

Evensong in York Minster, as seen from beside the main altar; notice the choir arrangement into decani or Dean's side (as seen here, the left side) and cantoris or Cantor's side (here, the right side).

Stalls assigned to Decanus (left) and Praecentor (right) at Lincoln Cathedral's St Hugh's Choir.

From the perspective of the congregation facing the altar, which by convention is regarded as liturgical East, this would be on the left (liturgical North) side.^[5]

While the cantoris side of the choir corresponds to the Gospel side of the altar (so called from the custom of reading the Epistle from the south end of the altar, and the Gospel from the north end of the altar), cantoris and decani properly refer only to sides of the choir, not to the sides of the altar. The arrangement of the cantoris and decani sections is called the "split chancel" model, which favors antiphonal and responsorial performance.^[6]

References

1. Nobody's Son: Final Edition. Frank D. Keeling. Trafford Publishing, 27 Jun 2007
2. Tuck, Robert (2004). Churches of Nova Scotia. Toronto: Dundurn. p. 146. ISBN 1-55002-478-7.
3. Ashley, Martin. "Where have all the singers gone, and when will they return? Prospects for Choral Singing after the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic" (PDF). Association of British Choral Directors. p. 21. Retrieved 29 April 2024. e.g. just Dec or Can on alternate days
4. "Morning and Evening Canticles" (PDF). Quarterly News Sheet. 1. School of English Church Music: 3. April 1928. Retrieved 29 April 2024. Verses are allotted to full choir, Dec. and Can.
5. Harris, Cyril M. (2013-02-28). Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture. Courier Corporation. ISBN 978-0-486-13211-2.
6. Unger, Melvin P. (2010). Historical Dictionary of Choral Music. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. pp. 3–4. ISBN 978-0-8108-7392-6.