A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

derivation is ''præcentor'', from

cantor A cantor or chanter is a person who leads people in singing or sometimes in prayer. Cantor as a profession generally refers to those leading a Jewish congregation, although it also applies to the lead singer or choir director in Christian contexts. ...

, meaning "the one who sings before" (or alternatively, "first singer").

Ancient precentors

The chief precentor was the highest position in many ancient Mesopotamian cities (see Music of Mesopotamia).

Jewish precentors

Jewish precentors are song or prayer leaders, leading synagogue music. A Jewish precentor is typically called a

hazzan A ''hazzan'' (; , lit. Hazan) or ''chazzan'' (, plural ; ; ) is a Jewish musician or precentor trained in the vocal arts who leads the congregation in songful prayer. In English, this prayer leader is often referred to as a cantor, a term al ...

. In the Middle Ages, women precentors leading prayers in the '' vaybershul'' (women's gallery) were known as firzogerin, farzangerin, foreleiner, zogerin, or zogerke.

Christian precentors

A precentor is a member of a church who helps facilitate worship. The role of precentor was carried over from the

synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

s into the early Christian church.

Catholic precentors

Ancient era

The term ''precentor'' usually described an

ecclesiastical {{Short pages monitor