Congregational singing is the practice of the
congregation participating in the
music of a church, either in the form of
hymns or a
metrical Psalms or a free form Psalm or in the form of the office of the
liturgy (for example
Gregorian chants).
It is contrasted with music being sung exclusively by a
choir
A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...
or
cantor(s). Congregational singing was largely the invention of the
Protestant Reformation. Before then, singing in churches, especially in larger urban churches, was largely left to professionals.
The reformers in
Strasbourg
Strasbourg ( , ; ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est Regions of France, region of Geography of France, eastern France, in the historic region of Alsace. It is the prefecture of the Bas-Rhin Departmen ...
, in particular, reduced the church service largely to a sermon bookended by congregational singing and prayers.
See also
*
Singing (meeting)
References
External links
Search me, O God, and know my heart today- example of congregational singing in a Presbyterian church
Church music
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