THE CHORAL TRADITION IN THE CATHEDRAL There has been choral
music in the cathedral since the 10th century. Liturgical
singing was already an integral part of daily divine service in
the Abbey of St Maurice, founded by Otto the Great in 937, as
well as in the first cathedral, which was raised to the status
of an Archepiscopacy in 968. The choirs were made up of boy
choristers and clergy (monks). In the cathedral school, founded
contemporaneously, music, as one of the 7 liberal arts, was an
important part of the curriculum. Amongst the important visitors
who heard the music in the cathedral were Walther von der
Vogelweide, Nicolas of Cusa and Ulrich von Hutten. The cathedral
chapter joined the reformation only in 1567; after this, music
played a different role in the liturgy. In 1618, Samuel Scheidt,
Michael Praetorius and Heinrich Schütz were invited to advise
the chapter on the institution of a modern musical organisation
for the cathedral. A small instrumental group was founded and a
more contemporary musica