responsoria

Responsoria, or responsorium in the singular, is a term in Western Christian liturgy referring to a short chant sung in response to a scriptural verse during the Divine Office. Typically, a responsory consists of a brief verse sung by a cantor, followed by a response sung by the choir; the same response may be repeated after subsequent verses. In many traditions the form includes a doxology or short concluding line.

Historically, responsoria developed in the early Middle Ages as part of the monastic Office and were preserved in Gregorian chant manuscripts. They became prominent in medieval liturgical books and were sometimes elaborated in polyphony during the Renaissance. The form is distinguished from the antiphon and other chant types by its responsive structure, often featuring a recurring refrain.

In the Roman Rite today, responsoria continue to be used in the Liturgy of the Hours, especially during Matins and Vespers, and the term is used in Anglican and some Lutheran and other Western rites as well. The plural form responsoria is widely used in scholarly and liturgical contexts to refer to these liturgical pieces; the singular is responsorium.

Examples of usage vary by tradition, but responsoria remain a common element of the daily cycle of prayers in many medieval and modern Western rites. They illustrate how scriptural verses are paired with sung responses to structure worship and reflection within the Divine Office. See also: canticle, liturgy, chant, antiphon.