Chorumgang

Chorumgang is a term used in German-language church music to describe a procession in which a choir moves through the church while singing. The word combines Chor (choir) and Gang (procession or walking), reflecting its function as a sung, liturgical procession performed by the singers rather than by lay participants.

The practice typically occurs as part of sacred services in Catholic and Protestant traditions, especially in historic German-speaking churches. The choir may proceed from a vestry into the nave or choir loft, or around the chancel, accompanied by instrumental support and liturgical singing. The repertoire often includes processional hymns, antiphons, motets, or other choral settings designed for procession, and the movement is usually integrated with the structure of the rite, such as the entrance, the blessing, or the recessional.

Historically, the chorumgang was more common in early modern church music and in grand ceremonial contexts in Central Europe, where Rubrics and choral books guided the precise order of motions and entries. Its use could vary by denomination and locality, reflecting regional liturgical customs and musical styles of the period. In many contemporary services, the formal chorumgang has declined or been adapted, though ceremonial processions by choirs remain a feature in some cathedrals, universities, and traditional church services.

Etymologically, the term is straightforwardly descriptive, and in practice it is closely related to, but distinct from, broader processional elements of worship that include lay participants and instrumental processes.