This article is about the musical term. For other uses, see Antiphon (disambiguation).
The Liber responsorialis, showing on the right-hand page the antiphons for the first night office of Christmas. The associated psalm tones are indicated by number and ending pitch, and the pitches for the ending of the doxology are indicated by the mnemonic Euouae.
An antiphon (Greek ἀντίφωνον, ἀντί "opposite" and φωνή "voice") is a short chant in Christian ritual, sung as a refrain. The texts of antiphons are usually taken from the Psalms or Scripture, but may also be freely composed. Their form was favored by St Ambrose and they feature prominently in Ambrosian chant, but they are used widely in Gregorian chant as well. They may be used during Mass, for the Introit, the Offertory or the Communion. They may also be used in the Liturgy of the Hours, typically for Lauds or Vespers.
They should not be confused with Marian antiphons or processional antiphons.
When a chant consists of alternating verses (usually sung by a cantor) and responses (usually sung by the congregation), a refrain is needed.
The looser term antiphony is generally used for any call and response style of singing, such as the kirtan or the sea shanty and other work songs, and songs and worship in African and African-American culture. Antiphonal music is that performed by two choirs in interaction, often singing alternate musical phrases.[1]Antiphonal psalmody is the singing or musical playing of psalms by alternating groups of performers.[2] The term "antiphony" can also refer to a choir-book containing antiphons.
^E. Foley and M. Paul, Worship music: a concise dictionary (Liturgical Press, 2000), p. 18.
^J. McKinnon, Music in early Christian literature (Cambridge University Press, 1989), p. 10.
An antiphon (Greek ἀντίφωνον, ἀντί "opposite" and φωνή "voice") is a short chant in Christian ritual, sung as a refrain. The texts of antiphons are usually...
The O Antiphons (also known as the Great Advent Antiphons or Great Os) are Magnificat antiphons used at Vespers on the last seven days of Advent in Western...
(Ecclesiastical Latin: [reˈdʒina ˈtʃeli]; Queen of Heaven) is a musical antiphon addressed to the Blessed Virgin Mary that is used in the liturgy of the...
The name Antiphon the Sophist (/ˈæntəˌfɒn, -ən/; Greek: Ἀντιφῶν) is used to refer to the writer of several Sophistic treatises. He probably lived in Athens...
Marian antiphons are a group of hymns in the Gregorian chant repertory of the Catholic Church, sung in honor of the Virgin Mary. Marian antiphons are not...
Christian denominations. In its most complete version, it consists of an antiphon, psalm verse and Gloria Patri, which are spoken or sung at the beginning...
mother of Jesus. "Alma Redemptoris Mater" is a well-known eleventh century antiphon devoted to Mary. The earliest documented use of the term to refer to a...
The Antiphon (1958) is a three-act verse tragedy by Djuna Barnes. Set in England in 1939 after the beginning of World War Two, the drama presents the Hobbs...
vacated role, and the band started afresh with its recordings, releasing Antiphon in 2013. The band first gained popularity[when?] in Europe, signing to...
Asperges me is a Latin antiphon said or sung at a Roman Catholic High Mass in all seasons except the Easter (Paschal) season and Palm Sunday. It traditionally...
The Antiphon Painter (fl. 495–480 BC) is the Notname for an Athenian red-figure vase-painter active in Ancient Greece during the early 5th century BC....
Vidi aquam is the name of an antiphon, which may be sung before the Tridentine Mass on Sunday, or either before or at the beginning (in place of the Penitential...
consisting of an antiphon, a psalm verse, a repeat of the antiphon, an intonation of the Gloria Patri Doxology, and a final repeat of the antiphon. Reciting...
returned to New York. She published her last major work, the verse play The Antiphon, in 1958, and she died in her apartment at Patchin Place, Greenwich Village...
"In paradisum" (English: "Into paradise") is an antiphon from the traditional Latin liturgy of the Western Church Requiem Mass. It is sung by the choir...
several dioceses, especially in France, was to use the Sub tuum as the final antiphon at Compline instead of the Salve Regina, and in the Rite of Braga, where...
divination based upon dreams Interpretation of Dreams (Antiphon), a classical work by Antiphon, surviving only in fragments Oneirocritica (Greek for "The...
Global Information