CHOIR, the body of singers who perform the musical portion of the service in a church, or the place set apart for them (O.F. suer from Lat. chorus, Fr. choeur). Any organized body of singers performing full part choral works or oratorios is also called a choir. The word was originally applied to all the clergy taking part in services of the church.
In English cathedrals the choir is composed of men (vicars choral or lay clerks) and boys (choristers). They are divided into two sets, sitting on the north and south side of the chancel respectively, called cantoris and decani from being on the same side as the cantor (precentor) or the decanus (dean). Surpliced choirs of women have occasionally been introduced, notably in the United States and the British colonies, but the practice has no warrant of traditional usage. (See VESTMENTS.) In England at the Reformation the choir services (Mattins, Evensong) re placed the Mass as the principal popular services, and, in general, only the choir vestments were retained in use. In the English cathedrals the members of the choir often retain privileges remi niscent of an earlier definite ecclesiastical status.
In architecture, (I) any part of a church intended for choir use, and (2), more commonly, the eastern end of a church, almost synonymous with chancel (q.v.). In developed churches of the middle ages, the choir is just to the west of the altar rail, usually between that and the crossing, although in some churches of Eng land and Spain the space extends well into the nave (q.v.). In some modern churches members of the choir are placed in a western gallery ; in Non-conformist churches they are frequently placed over and behind the pulpit. The choir stalls of Gothic churches such as Amiens, Exeter, Lincoln are works of great rich ness. In the illustration, Figure A. is from Gardner, A Guide to English Gothic Architecture, permission of the Cambridge Uni versity Press; C. and N. are by permission from Sir Banister Fletcher, History of Architecture on the Comparative Method, 8th ed. 1928 (Batsford) ; F. from Atkinson and Bagenal, Theory and Elements of Architecture, permission of Benn & Co. ; L from Greenwell, Durham Cathedral, permission of Andrews & Co.