antiphony

American  

[an-tif-uh-nee] / ænˈtɪf ə ni /

noun

• antiphonies
  plural

1. alternate or responsive singing by a choir in two divisions.

2. a psalm, verse, etc., so sung; antiphon.

3. a responsive musical utterance.

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antiphony British  

/ ænˈtɪfənɪ /

noun

1. the antiphonal singing of a musical composition by two choirs

2. any musical or other sound effect that answers or echoes another

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antiphonic
  adjective
• antiphonically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• antiphonies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of antiphony

First recorded in 1585–95; antiphon + -y ³

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

antiphony antiphonies

The massive space of the Albert Hall was perfect for this work, evoking not just the strophic religious responses on which Boulez based the piece but the antiphony of the Italian baroque, too.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 25, 2012

In nagging antiphony he and his pouter-pigeon wife, Barbara Bel Geddes, sing the have-not-got-enough blues of a deceptively affluent suburbia.

From Time Magazine Archive

During the long weeks of rehearsals, the salesmen, backed by a full orchestra, chanted an intricate number called Rock Island, passing phrases from one to the other in complex antiphony.

From Time Magazine Archive

One bleak, rainy day, a litany inviting antiphony sprang to Jackson's lips that be came his slogan and made him a celebrity.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Gabrielis also experimented with placing clusters of singers and instrumentalists in different pockets of the building, a technique known as antiphony, meaning ‘voices against each other’, or poly choral, ‘many choirs’.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

The dialogue between the river and mountain spirits will perhaps remind them of the ghostly antiphonies which the "Mariner" hears in his trance.

From A History of English Romanticism in the Nineteenth Century by Henry A. (Henry Augustin) Beers

Then came the epistle, prayers, antiphonies and a benediction.

From The History of England, from the Accession of James II — Volume 3 by Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay

One after the other, like the antiphonies in the choral service, rise Fanny and the rose in June, then back again the rose in June and Fanny.

From The English Mail-Coach and Joan of Arc by Thomas De Quincey

One after the other, like the antiphonies in the choral service, rises Fanny and the rose in June, then back again the rose in June and Fanny.

From Miscellaneous Essays by Thomas De Quincey

The Lamas with their deep voices were intoning the prayers while the lesser priests answered with their antiphonies.

From Beasts, Men and Gods by Ferdinand Ossendowski

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