an them, an the me, antem

[In A.S. antefen = a hymn sung in alternate parts, an anthem; O. Fr. anthame, antene, antienne, antevene Prov. antifene, antifona; Sp. & Ital. antifona; Low Lat. antiphon a; from Gr. ἀντίφωνον ( antiphon on ) an antiphon, an anthem; ἀντίφωνος (απtiphonos) = sounding contrary, sponsive to: ἀντί (anti = opposite to, contrary to; φωνή (phone) = a sound, a tone.] re *1. Originally : A hymn sung "against" another hymn; in other words, a hymn in alternate parts, the one sung by one side of the choir, the other by the other. " Anthem, a divine song sung alternately by two opposite choires and choruses."-Glo og. Nov., 2nd ed. (1719) [See also example under ANTHEM-WISE.] 2. Now : A portion of Scripture or of the Liturgy, set to music, and sung or chanted. 235 There are three kinds of anthems: (1) A verse anthem, which in general has only one voice to a part; (2) a full anthem with verse, the latter performed by single voice, the former by all the choir; (3) a full anthem, performed by all the choir. Anthems were introduced into the English Church service in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and among those who have distinguished themselves in this kind of composition may be mentioned Tallis, Farrant, Orlando Gibbons, Blow, Purcell, Michael Wise, Jeremiah Clark, Croft, Greene, Boyce, Nares, as well as many modern writers. the thanksgiving sermons and thanksgiving anthems ."-Macaulay: Hist . Eng . , chap. xxiii. anthem-wise, adv . After the manner of an anthem. "Several quires placed one over agninst another, and taking the voice by catches, anthem - wise , give great pleasure."-Bacon: E ays, Civ. and Mor., ch. xxxvii.