Antiphony

Antiphony, the name of a species of sacred song, sung by two parties, each responding to the other. Many of the Psalms show that antiphonal singing was in use in David's time. Its introduction into the Greek Church is ascribed to Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, in the 2d century; and Ambrosius, Bishop of Milan, is said to have introduced it into the Western Church, in the 4th century. The chanting of the Psalms in the English cathedral service is an imitation of the ancient antiphony.