Intoning, a modern popular term for the utterance in musical recitative of the versicles, responses, collects, &c. of the Anglican Liturgy. This recitative consists mainly of a single sustained note, or monotone, but may be varied by the introduction of certain simple inflections, which have the sanction of more or less prevalent custom or tradition. Of these a full account may be found in various choral books—e.g. in Doran and Nottingham's Choir Directory of Plain-song, Doran and Thompson's Ritual Music of the Altar (both published by Novello), and in Notes on Ceremonial (Pickering).
Such musical recitative in vocal prayer is undoubtedly very ancient, and its employment in Christian worship is, in fact, an inheritance from the Synagogue, where it may be heard still. It obtains equally among Mohammedans, American Indians, South Sea Islanders, and the great majority of barbarous nations, and would seem to be the outcome of an instinctive feeling that the familiarity of our colloquial tones of voice is out of keeping with the reverence that befits human intercourse with Deity. Whatever may be said for or against the practice elsewhere, there can be no doubt that in our cathedrals and larger sacred buildings an audible utterance would without it be far less easily attainable.