Where does the choir sing?

[SMHW]

Our church is round (technically it is octagonal) with the altar in the middle. The ceiling is dome shaped with the highest part over the altar.

The seating is in two “rings” around the altar with an aisle between them. The choir sings from a section in one of the outer rings that is furthest from the main entrance to the church. The organ and piano are back there too. There is “stadium-style” seating there so the choir can see the director.

We call the place where the choir sits the “back” of the church but since it is a round church the orientation of the people to the choir depends on where they are sitting.

 

[Elizium23]

Not silliness, it’s actually one of the recommendations in Pope St. Pius X’s Motu proprio on sacred music* “Tra le Sollecitudini”*
%between%14. Finally, only men of known piety and probity of life are to be admitted to form part of the choir of a church, and these men should by their modest and devout bearing during the liturgical functions show that they are worthy of the holy office they exercise. It will also be fitting that singers while singing in church wear the ecclesiastical habit and surplice, and that they be hidden behind gratings when the choir is excessively open to the public gaze.

%between%

I much prefer singing in the loft of my visiting parish, where it so happens that they do not applaud us after the Recessional hymn dies.

In my home parish, the choir is seated in the front, facing the assembly who are “in the round”. I look out and see all the faces of the people, and I have to crane my neck to see the sanctuary; in fact from some areas of the choir there is a wall obstructing the view of the altar. I much prefer the faraway but ample view of the sanctuary afforded from the choir loft, and the anonymity which arises from being mostly out of view. Oh, if only the priest were ad orientem as well.

For an opposing view, I will also offer this. My childhood experiences of music were frequently at Mass, seated up close to the folk group positioned just adjacent to the sanctuary. I watched instruments being played and songs being sung and I learned much just by copying them. I greatly enjoyed folk music at Mass in those days and this all led to cultivate an appreciation of music throughout my life. I was very much into collecting records and CDs and going to concerts in my youth. And 14 years ago I came to join a church choir and have continued ever since. I am not sure my experience would be quite the same if I hadn’t been up-close and personal for my formative years.

 

[CyrilSebastian]

At the local church here there is a choir loft.
At some Masses the choir members have sung from the choir loft.
At other Masses they were grouped in one area of pews and they sang from there.