Meaning of "Decani" in Music
In music, the term "Decani" refers to the position of singers or choir members who are located on the right side when facing the altar in a church or cathedral choir. The term is often used in choral music to describe the positioning of the singers or choir members ). The singers on the left side are called "Cantoris," while those on the right side are referred to as "Decani" ). This positioning allows the singers to face each other, creating a balanced and harmonious sound during choral performances.
The terms "Decani" and "Cantoris" originated from the Latin words "dexter" and "sinister," meaning "right" and "left," respectively The positioning of the singers in this way is a traditional practice in Anglican church music and is often observed in cathedrals ).
It's important to note that the term "Decani" is specific to the context of choral music and is not widely used outside of this domain.
This term is applied to Anglican church music referring to the half of the choir sitting on the dean's side of the church, which is to the right of the congregation (South). The other half of the choir is referred to as the cantoris, which sits on the left side of the congregation (North) near the cantor.
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