In Christianity, the cantor, female chantress, sometimes called the precentor or the protopsaltes (; from ), is the chief singer, and usually instructor, employed at a church, with responsibilities for the choir and the preparation of the Mass or worship service. The term is also used for a similar task in Reform Judaism and in Ancient Egypt.
Generally, a cantor must be competent to choose and conduct the vocals for the choir, to start any chant on demand, and to be able to identify and correct the missteps of singers placed under them. A cantor may be held accountable for the immediate rendering of the music, showing the course of the melody by movements of the hand(s) (cheironomia), similar to a conductor.
Western Christianity
Roman Catholicism
Before and after the Second Vatican Council, a cantor in the Roman Catholic Church was the leading singer of the choir, a bona fide clerical role.
The medieval cantor of the papal Schola Cantorum was called Prior scholae or Primicerius. In medieval cathedrals, the cantor or precentor directed the music and chant, and was also one of the ranking dignitaries of the chapter. During the 14th century in many churches, the cantor began to delegate his instruction of the singers to a master of music. After the introduction of harmonized music, some duties naturally fell to the conductor or choirmaster. Today, the cantor is a role that can be performed by a lay person. In parishes without a choir, the cantor serves to lead the responsorial singing with the congregation.
The cantor's locality in the church is most generally to the right of the choir, and directly to his left is his assistant, formerly called the succentor. A common custom for cantors was the bearing of the staff, which was the mark of his dignity and a visual representative of his sacred role inside the church. This custom still survives in some places.
Protestantism
In Protestant churches, the role of the cantor can be lay or pastoral. In Northern European cities, especially in Germany, the title of Cantor or Kantor survived the Reformation, and referred to a musician who supervised the music in several principal churches, taught in the boys' secondary school, and provided music for civic functions. Johann Sebastian Bach ( in Leipzig) and Georg Philipp Telemann (Hamburg) were among the famous musicians employed under this system.
In cathedral churches in the Anglican Communion, the precentor or head cantor is a member of the governing chapter, second in rank to the dean. His stall is opposite the dean's and the two sides of the divided choir are accordingly known as "decani" (dean's) and "cantoris" (precentor's).
Evangelical churches
In some Evangelical churches, the ministry of the worship leader or worship pastor is to direct the worship during worship service. They also direct rehearsals with the worship team. Training in worship is offered in some Bible colleges.
Eastern Christianity
In the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches, a cantor, also called a chanter (; ), is a monk or a lay person in minor orders who chants responses and hymns in the services of the church. There are several titles for the psaltes, which depend on the recognition of his capabilities as a chanter, sometimes connected with an employment, by the local or Ecumenical Patriarchate. In some smaller communities it is also possible, that the community sings within an oral tradition and without any instruction by a protopsaltes, in other Orthodox Rites, there are various hierarchical offices, which can be passed during a long career, connected with a lifelong process of learning.