Antiphon is alternative singing. A psalm or hymn is sung alternately by two choirs. This manner of chanting was introduced in the West around 500 AD. e., displacing the response form. Antiphons are also short verses sung before and after a psalm or song. They define the musical image and provide a clue to the liturgical meaning. May be from a psalm, a mystery, or a feast. Antiphon in Orthodox worship - hymn.
Description
Antiphon is a concept of Greek origin, meaning "sounding against", "responding sound", "opposite singing". It currently consists of one or more verses of the psalm to which it is sung. The verse that serves as the text contains the main idea and indicates the point of view from which it should be understood.
Early Church
Initially the chant of the antiphons was applied to the Introduction,Offering and Communion of the Mass. This happened at a time when the glorified one was preparing for the holy sacrifice. It is believed that Pope Celestine I became the creator of the antiphons. He predetermined that the psalms of David would be sung before Mass. The verse serving as an antiphonal text began to be repeated on a separate melody after each verse of the psalm.
Composition
The tunes to which the lyrics are sung are usually simple. Some of them are completely syllabic. The melodic meaning of the antiphons is the preparation of the mind for the next melody of the psalm, the formation of a kind of prelude. It is established that there are only 47 typical melodies. Each of them serves for several different texts.
Sometimes one or the other of the 47 typical antiphonal melodies precedes the melody of the psalm according to a holiday or season. The most beautiful melodies are considered "Alma Redemptoris", "Salve Regina" and "Regina Coeli". All of them are part of the service in honor of the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Orthodoxy
During the time of John Chrysostom in cities like Constantinople, all Orthodox churches were one. Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the main church on Sundays. All residents of the city attended this service. There were also visits to smaller churches.
For example, on the feast day of St. John the Baptist, people gathered in a procession to go to St. John's Church to perform Orthodox hymns. During the procession they sang hymns. Cantorrepeated one or two verses of a psalm, and the people sang a refrain. This was repeated several times. People liked such hymns so much that as a result, antiphons appeared at the liturgy.
Between the antiphons of praise, the priest offers prayers. Initially, when the people sang antiphons in procession on the way to church, the deacon introduced each prayer with the words: "Let us pray to the Lord." After that, the priest said a prayer, and the people answered: "Amen".
Over time, the priests began to pray in silence. The deacon expanded his invitation to prayer to include other petitions. Thus was born a small litany with the Deacon singing the prayerful invocation: "Let us pray to the Lord in peace!" Then: "Help us, save us, and have mercy on us, O God, by thy grace." And at the end: "Memory of our Most Holy, Pure, Blessed and Glorious Mother of God and Blessed Virgin Mary!" After that, the priest said the final jubilation of his prayer so that the people could answer: "Amen".
Three Antiphons of Orthodoxy
The prayers offered after the first and second antiphons are an appeal to God from his children with a request to keep and receive them as they approach him.
During the third antiphon, the clergy and the parishioners accompanying them make a procession with the Gospel. In the days of St. John Chrysostom, the clergy entered the church with the Gospel and went straight to the altar to start the service. Now that the Gospel is kept on the Altar, wearing it inthe procession has a deeper meaning. It shows that Christ is among the people and believers revere the gospel as Jesus.
Orthodox sing all the antiphons and hymns of the Divine Liturgy not in memory of those who died and parted with them, but as an expression of joy that Christ is alive and is among people. The procession of the Gospel shows what a single and powerful Orthodox chant is.
Development
In the eighth century, antiphons consisted of:
- 92 Psalm with refrain "Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Save, Save us!";
- 93 Psalm with refrain "Save us, Son of God… Hallelujah!";
- 95 Psalm with the hymn "Only Begotten Son", written by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century.
In the 12th century, some monks in Constantinople began the innovative custom of replacing Psalms 103, 146 and the Beatitudes with normal antiphons in the Sunday liturgy.
Today some churches follow this custom. But mostly the singing of Psalms 92, 93 and 95 is used as the main antiphons. Whichever hymns are used, these three songs begin all services.
Types of Antiphons of Orthodoxy
- Fine - end the litany and begin the liturgy.
- Everyday - replace the pictorial psalms, unless other services are indicated, the second name is everyday antiphons.
- Holiday - used for Twelfth Feasts.
- "Psalms" - consist of verses of the Psalms.
- Powerful - sung on Sunday morning, consists of eight songs.
Catholic
In Catholicism, antiphons are used in Mass, during Vespers and during all canonical hours. They have their prescribed place in almost every liturgical function. The essence of the antiphonal psalmody is the alternation between the soloists and the choir. on execution.
In the fourth century, alternative chant, which until then had been used only in secular gatherings, found its place in worship gatherings. This does not mean that antiphonal chanting was new. It was successfully used in the Synagogue. The real novelty was the inclusion of a more ornate melody. The soloist chanted the text of the psalm, and at certain intervals people picked up the singing with a refrain.
From refrain to antiphon
The Catholic Apostolic Constitution specifies the custom that was used in the time of Eusebius. The antiphon became not a plug-in chorus, but a very short end. Sometimes just a syllable that all the people chanted, drowning out the voice of the soloist. The refrain, a kind of exclamation, alien to the context and repeated at regular intervals, consisted of one or more words. Sometimes it was a whole verse or troparium. This antiphonal method was also used by the Jews. It can be easily recognized in the case of some psalms. It is this method that the Church has taken for its own. Saint Athanasius, speaking of the place of Hallelujah in the Psalms, calls it a "refrain" or"answer". It is used most often.
Canon of Antiphons
This collection of antiphons was published by Cardinal Pitra. The Canon includes several very short formulas, among which the Alleluia is often repeated. The rest are usually taken from the first verse of the respective psalms. The longest refrain did not exceed a phrase of fifteen words. This was driven by the desire to allow people to participate in the liturgy, while saving them from having to memorize entire psalms.
The same custom prevailed in Constantinople in 536 for the Trisagion. Also worth mentioning is the hymn of St. Methodius in his "Feast of the Ten Virgins", composed before 311. Each alphabetical line sung by the bridesmaid is followed by a single refrain sung by the choir of virgins.
Seven Catholic antiphons
On December 17, Catholics begin daily conversions to Christ with seven messianic titles based on Old Testament prophecies. The Church remembers all the variety of human troubles before the coming of the Redeemer. These days the Christmas antiphons are sung:
- "Oh, wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love, come teach us the way of knowledge!". Believers are flying back into the depths of eternity to turn to wisdom, the Word of God.
- "O leader of the house of Israel, giving law to Moses at Sinai: come to save us with his might!". People are moving frometernity in the time of Moses.
- "Oh, the root of Jesse's stem, a sign of God's love for all his people: come to save us without delay!". The people came to the time when God was preparing the line of David.
- "Oh, the key of David, opening the gates of the eternal Kingdom of God: come and free the prisoners of darkness!". People approached the year 1000.
- "O Radiant Dawn, radiance of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine for those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death!". The line of David is raised so that the nations can look to the rising star in the east.
- "O King of all nations and cornerstone of the Church: come and save the man you created from the dust!". This brings people to the evening of the All-Night Vigil.
- "O Emmanuel, our King and legislator: come save us, the Lord our God!". People salute Christ with the last great name.
Polyphonic antiphons
Appeared in England in the 14th century as a set of texts in honor of the Virgin Mary. They were sung separately from mass and office. Most often after Compline. At the end of the 15th century, English composers created nine parts with an increased range of vocals. The largest collection of such antiphons in Catholic worship is the choir of Eton in the late 15th century. Such chants are still common in the Anglican musical tradition.
Antiphons of Great Advent
Used in the evening prayer of the last days of Advent. Each antiphon is the name of Christ. In the Roman Catholic tradition, theysung or read in Vespers from 17 to 23 December. In the Church of England, they are used as preludes to the Magnificat during evening prayers. In addition, they are sung in Lutheran churches.
Polychoral antiphony
Two or more groups of singers sing alternately. This manner of performing antiphons began in the Renaissance and early Baroque. An example is the work of Giovanni Gabrieli. This music is often referred to as the Venetian style. It spread throughout Europe after 1600.
Hymns to Mary
Marian antiphons are Christian songs dedicated to the Virgin Mary. They are used in the worship of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran churches. Most often they can be heard in the monthly prayers of May. Some of them have also been adopted as Christmas antiphons. While there are a number of ancient Marian hymns, the term is most commonly used to refer to four hymns:
- Alma Redemptoris Mater (Advent until February 2nd).
- Ave Regina Kelorum (Introduction of the Lord through Good Friday).
- Regina Koepi (Easter season).
- Salve Regina (from the first Sunday evening of Trinity to Advent).
