chapelmaster
Sacred music director
A chapelmaster is the director of music at a chapel, church, or court, responsible for composing, conducting, and overseeing all musical performances during religious services.
The position was particularly important in European courts and cathedrals from the Renaissance through the Baroque period, when composers like Bach and Haydn held such posts.
The term translates the German *Kapellmeister*, which has become the more common form in English usage.
One who directs musicians
- rehearsalPre-performance practice session
- sopranoHighest female voice range
- altoLower female voice
- tenorEssential meaning or import
bass · harmony · polyphony · cantata · motet · madrigal · chorister · anthem
Worship song leader
- cantorLiturgical music leader
- organistPipe keyboard performer
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- rectorParish clergy chief
vicar · priest · minister · chaplain · deacon · sacristan · verger · churchwarden
Formal worship structure
- massQuantity of matter
- vespersEvening devotional service
- hymnReligious song of praise
- psalmSacred scriptural song
sacrament · benediction · worship · devotion · congregation · sanctuary · altar · sermon
German composer surname
- HandelBaroque composer of oratorios
- ByrdPolar aviation pioneer
- VictoriaFemale monarch's name
- MozartEighteenth-century Austrian composer
Haydn · composition · sacred music · oratorio · requiem · magnificat · musical director · court musician
Of monarchs
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
- patronRegular supporter or customer
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- appointmentScheduled time for something
aristocratic · noble · ducal · princely · Baroque · ensemble · chamber music · commission
conductor
One who directs musicians
tenor · bass · harmony · polyphony · cantata · motet · madrigal · chorister · anthem · counterpoint
precentor
Worship song leader
- cantorLiturgical music leader
- organistPipe keyboard performer
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
rector · vicar · priest · minister · chaplain · deacon · sacristan · verger · churchwarden · curate
liturgy
Formal worship structure
psalm · sacrament · benediction · worship · devotion · congregation · sanctuary · altar · sermon · homily
Bach
German composer surname
Haydn · Mozart · composition · sacred music · oratorio · requiem · magnificat · musical director · court musician · Baroque
royal
Of monarchs
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
- patronRegular supporter or customer
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
appointment · aristocratic · noble · ducal · princely · Baroque · ensemble · chamber music · commission
chapelmastersecularism
Separation of faith, state
atheism · agnosticism · humanism · hedonism
chapel, master, chapels, masters, mastered, mastering, masterful, masterly, mastery