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 a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

derivation is ''præcentor'', from cantor, 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 Music was ubiquitous throughout Mesopotamian history, playing important roles in both religious and secular contexts. Mesopotamia is of particular interest to scholars because evidence from the region—which includes artifacts, artistic depic ...

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'' ( he, חַזָּן , plural ; Yiddish ''khazn''; Ladino ''Hasan'') is a Jewish musician or precentor trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer. In English, this ...

or cantor. 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, ', 'house of assembly', or ', "house of prayer"; Yiddish: ''shul'', Ladino: or ' (from synagogue); or ', "community". sometimes referred to as shul, and interchangeably used with the word temple, is a Jewish house of wor ...

s into the early church.

Catholic precentors

Ancient era

The term ''precentor'' described sometimes an

ecclesiastical {{Short pages monitor