Liturgical Music

THE CANTOR AND PSALMIST

ACCORDING TO THE
VATICAN II DOCUMENTS

The Cantor is a trained singer. He leads the singing

of the various solo parts in the Liturgy, such as the

Invocations in the Litanies, the Responsorial Psalm
etc.
The Cantor may sing the parts of the Presider or
Deacon according to the rubrics.
Also, the Cantor lead and support Congregational
Singing, most specially in the absence of a choir.

Musicam Sacram
6. The proper arrangement of a liturgical celebration

requires the due assignment and performance of certain

functions, by which "each person, minister or
layman, should carry out all and only those parts
which pertain to his office by the nature of the rite
and the norms of the liturgy."This also demands that
the meaning and proper nature of each part and of
each song be carefully observed. To attain this, those
parts especially should be sung which by their very nature
require to be sung, using the kind and form of music
which is proper to their character.

Musicam Sacram
8. Whenever, for a liturgical service which is to be

celebrated in sung form, one can make a choice

between various people, it is desirable that those
who are known to be more proficient in
singing be given preference; this is especially the
case in more solemn liturgical celebrations and in
those which either require more difficult singing,
or are transmitted by radio or television.

RESPONSORIAL SINGING

Cantor(Psalmist) and Choir with Congregation.

ANTIPHONAL SINGING

Choir and Congregation.

Cantor as substitute to the Presider

The Singing of the Kyrie Eleison.
The Singing of the Exultet or the Solemn

Proclamation of Easter.
The Singing of the Solemn Proclamation of
Christmas.
The Singing of the date of Easter during the
Epiphany.

Cantor as substitute of the Presider

The Singing of the Ecce Lignum

Crucis
The Singing of the Lumen
Christi.
The Singing of the Easter Alleluia.

Other parts of the Liturgy

The Singing of the Prayers of the Faithful.
The Singing of the Litany of the Saints.
The Singing of the Antiphons and Psalms for

different Liturgical Celebrations, e.g. Dedication of

the Church etc., as prescribed by the rubrics

Other duties of the Cantor

He may rehears the Congregation to sing the parts

that pertains to them.

He gives the cue as to where the Congregation must
sing.
He may support the singing of the faithful by joining
them.
He serves as the conductor/leader of the
Congregation and he coordinates the singing of the
Congregation with the Choir.