antiphon
Choir's sung answer
An antiphon is a short liturgical text, usually from scripture, sung or chanted in Christian worship as a response or refrain.
In traditional practice, a verse is sung by one part of a choir or congregation, and the antiphon is sung in reply by another—the two groups alternating back and forth.
The term extends to any call-and-response musical form: The protesters' chants took on the quality of antiphons.
The adjective antiphonal describes this responsive, back-and-forth pattern.
Short liturgical sentence
- gradualDeveloping slowly over time
- introitOpening liturgical music
- offertoryService donation period
- communionProfound shared closeness
tract · alleluia · sequence · canticle · psalm · vespers · matins · compline
Organized group of singers
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- motetSacred polyphonic choral work
- a cappellaSinging without instruments
counterpoint · harmonization · voicing · soprano · alto · tenor · bass · anthem
Unaccompanied liturgical melody
- gregorianNamed for Pope Gregory
- psalmodySacred vocal music practice
- intonationPitch variation in speech
- cantorLiturgical music leader
precentor · monophonic · byzantine · plainchant · tone · mode · cadence · melisma
Alternating musical exchange
- refrainAbstain from acting
- verseMetered poetic passage
- alternationSequential interchange of elements
- echoReflected sound wave
reply · congregation · celebrant · lector · dialogue · interplay · reciprocal · answering
versicle
Short liturgical sentence
communion · tract · alleluia · sequence · canticle · psalm · vespers · matins · compline · lauds
choir
Organized group of singers
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- motetSacred polyphonic choral work
a cappella · counterpoint · harmonization · voicing · soprano · alto · tenor · bass · anthem · hymn
plainsong
Unaccompanied liturgical melody
- gregorianNamed for Pope Gregory
- psalmodySacred vocal music practice
- intonationPitch variation in speech
cantor · precentor · monophonic · byzantine · plainchant · tone · mode · cadence · melisma
call-and-response
Alternating musical exchange
- refrainAbstain from acting
- verseMetered poetic passage
- alternationSequential interchange of elements
echo · reply · congregation · celebrant · lector · dialogue · interplay · reciprocal · answering · repetition
- Catholic liturgyMass, missal, lectionary, liturgical year, rubrics
- sacred musichymns, hymn, anthem, anthems, gospel
- call and responsegospel, spirituals, litany, congregation, preacher
- choral musicchoral music, choral works, choral arrangements, choral arrangement, choir arrangements
- Christian prayerLord's Prayer, Our Father, amen, contemplative prayer, intercession
- Liturgical MusicGregorian chant, plainchant, plainsong, hymn, psalm
antiphonsolo
Performance by one
monody · aria · monophony · recitative · silent meditation