canter, cantor

Canter or canter describes one of the gaits of a horse--how the horse moves or steps--
She could put her horse through his paces--gallop, trot, and canter.
The horse was old, and wouldn't go any faster than a canter.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Cantor or cantor means the person who leads a church or temple in singing a hymn--
He liked to sing, and was usually the cantor at weekly services.
"The Jazz Singer" is the story of a cantor who becomes a popular music star.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The cantor was a horseman, and would describe the timing of a song as a trot, gallop, or canter."