Certain instruments of limited range will not be found suitable for solo C-1 recitations, even with mutation. In such circumstances, range augmentation through ensemble performance is the only option. Group lections, however, provide special opportunities and advantages that may recommend them even when instrumental or vocal range restrictions are not an issue. Tropes such as Klangfarbenstimme, for example, are especially effective in ensemble situations.
The principal speaker or group of speakers sharing the principal text is designated the cantus. If more than one preexistent text is to accompany the cantus, the speaker(s) of this additional material is (are) designated the discantus. All other members of the ensemble belong to the tropus section, and any single member of this group is called a tropist. The ensemble as a whole, including cantus and any discantus or tropus is referred to as the vox or voice.
It is often desirable to decide in advance of a lection the specific parts of a given text for which each member of the cantus or discantus will be responsible, and to prepare notated scores based on C-1 transliterations of texts in the original parent language. Details of the performance should be discussed by the group as a whole during pre-lection readings. The cantus should be regarded as the primus inter pares when final artistic decisions have to be made, and a majority decision by its member(s) will resolve any specific issue. Failing this, a majority decision by the combined cantus and discantus (first) or the entire ensemble (as a last resort) should be reached. There is no maximum or minimum number of members for cantus, discantus or tropus, but no individual in the vox should be assigned to more than one of the three sections.
The actual size of the ensemble or any of its sections should be solely determined by the implicit or explicit requirements of the text(s) to be recited. Selections with an overall uniformity of mood or concept, particularly those of a more abstract character, are suitable for ensembles of all sizes, but certain poetry and prose works with highly variable content and vivid imagery are often best left to a single speaker or smaller "chamber" ensemble. The cantus should never arbitrarily exclude tropists who wish to participate; sometimes, it will be possible to use several smaller voices (voces), each of which performs different sections of an extended text.
When present, the discantus is placed behind the cantus and in front of the tropus, although other textually appropriate arrangements are also acceptable.
Printed texts of all pre-planned material (e. g., original texts of the cantus and discantus in parent languages) should be distributed to the audience prior to a lection. If printed texts are not available, the selections may be recited in the parent language(s) prior to the reading. Alternately, the text may be projected on a screen for the convenience of the audience, or unobtrusively communicated through some other means.
