responsorium

Responsorium, from the Latin respondere meaning “to answer,” is a form of liturgical chant used in Western Christian rites. It designates a short piece in which a cantor or soloist delivers a verse and the assembled choir or congregation provides a recurring response, or refrain. The term is closely tied to the responsorial style found in psalmody and other liturgical recitations.

In its most common form, the structure consists of a verse sung by a cantor, followed by a refrain sung by all. In a responsorial psalm, the psalm verse is sung by the cantors or a soloist, and the refrain (the responsorium) is repeated after each verse. The text is typically biblical or liturgical, and the musical setting can range from plainchant to more elaborate polyphony.

Historical usage is attested chiefly in medieval and later Western liturgies. Responsoria were prominent in the Divine Office (the Liturgy of the Hours), especially in services such as Vespers and Matins, where the community would participate through the refrain. Over time, the form spread to other rites and denominations, influencing Anglican, Lutheran, and other chant traditions.

Musically, responsoria are generally short and functional, designed to aid congregational participation. They may exist as stand-alone chants, or as part of the larger psalmody with varying lengths and melodic complexity. In scholarly and liturgical contexts, the term “responsorium” is used to refer to this specific type of response, while English-language practice may also describe the form as a responsorial psalm or a simple response.