Responsory

Under responsory (from the Latin responsum, answer '; German response vocals) is understood in the Western ( Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran ) liturgy the antiphonal singing between a cantor ( the cantor or schola ) and the community. The individual worshiper sings the whole responsory.

Way of singing and liturgical place

Cantor or schola sing the text of the reciprocal verse and one or more other verses, the meeting will answer with the whole or a part of the refrain, the responsum. A responsorial singing of the text in this way is assigned the original form of congregational response to the readings in the Liturgy of the Hours and the Mass and since the 4th century. The responsorial chants of the Mass include the Gradual and the Gospel Acclamation.

Over the history of the liturgy, the responsory has been shortened and changed so that it hardly reveals the original Psalm. So the Gospel Acclamation Alleluia next to the only one verse remains. In the liturgy of the hours it has shrunk to the responsory breve or to the verse, in the Holy Mass there, however, remained as a responsorial psalm.

A related, but different kind of change is the antiphonal singing singing.

Musical reception

Music History of particular importance are the Responsorien the Karmetten ( Matins ) of Kartage Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, by major composers such as Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Orlando di Lasso, Tomás Luis de Victoria, Carlo Gesualdo, Alessandro Scarlatti, Jan Dismas Zelenka or Michael Haydn set to music.

Examples of Responsorien

Matins on Good Friday

Latin

V: Vinea Electa Méa, égo te plantávi: Quómodo it Conversa in amaritúdinem, ut me crucifígeres, et Barabbas dimítteres? A: Vinea Electa Méa, égo te plantávi: Quómodo it Conversa in amaritúdinem, ut me crucifígeres, et Barabbas dimítteres? V: Sepívi te, Lapides et Elegi ex te, et aedificávi túrrim. A: Quómodo it Conversa in amaritúdinem, ut me crucifígeres, et Barabbas dimítteres? V / A: Vinea Electa Méa, égo te plantávi: Quómodo it Conversa in amaritúdinem, ut me crucifígeres, et Barabbas dimítteres?

German

V: My vineyard 's chosen, I have planted you. How have you turned into bitterness that you kreuzigtest me and Barrabas freigabst? A: My vineyard 's chosen, I have planted you. How have you turned into bitterness that you kreuzigtest me and Barrabas freigabst? V: I have collected Enclosed you and the stones of the Tower with you. A: How did you turned into bitterness that you kreuzigtest me and Barrabas freigabst. V / A: My vineyard 's chosen, I have planted you. How have you turned into bitterness that you kreuzigtest me and Barrabas freigabst.

Compline

Latin

V: In Manus Tuas Domine ComMenDo Spiritum meum. A: In Manus Tuas Domine ComMenDo Spiritum meum. V: Rédemisti nos Domine, Déus Veritatis. A: ComMenDo Spiritum meum. V: Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spíritui Sancto. A: In Manus Tuas Domine ComMenDo Spiritum meum.

German

V: Lord, I trust in, into your hands I commit my life. A: Lord, I trust in, into your hands I commit my life. V: Let your face shine on your servant, save me in thy mercy. A: In your hands I commit my life. V: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. A: Lord, I trust in, into your hands I commit my life.