antiphony

[ an-tif-uh-nee ]

/ ænˈtɪf ə ni /

alternate or responsive singing by a choir in two divisions.

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

a responsive musical utterance.

Origin of antiphony

First recorded in 1585–95; antiphon + -y³

an·ti·phon·ic

[an-tuh-fon-ik] /ˌæn təˈfɒn ɪk/, adjective an·ti·phon·i·cal·ly, adverb

He looked back fondly to the days when he had sung his part in the antiphony in the magnificent cathedral at Manila.

The Great White Tribe in Filipinia |Paul T. Gilbert
According to its derivation (from ant-hymn, responsive or alternate song) the word anthem was at first synonymous with antiphony.

Music in the History of the Western Church |Edward Dickinson
Antiphony was the ancient mode of rendering music, in which two sets of voices sang alternately.

A Short History of English Music |Ernest Ford
He consumed the cleansings and turned to read the antiphony with resonant voice.

Under the Witches' Moon |Nathan Gallizier

The culprits poured out for a while an antiphony of explanations, which died out at last in a miserable silence.

St. Ives |Robert Louis Stevenson

antiphony

/ (ænˈtɪfənɪ) /

the antiphonal singing of a musical composition by two choirs

any musical or other sound effect that answers or echoes another