A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Responsorium
RESPONSORIUM. A species of Antiphon, sung in many parts of the Roman Office, and particularly after each of the nine Lessons at Matins, in which Service it forms a very important feature, more especially during Holy Week, when the Lessons are taken from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, and the Responsoria are so arranged as to explain their connection with the sad History of the Passion. [See Lamentations.]
The number of Responsoria used throughout the Ecclesiastical Year is very great. The Plain Chaunt Melodies adapted to them will be found in the Antiphonarium, the Directorium Chori, the Officium Hebdomadæ Sanctæ, and other similar Office Books. They have also been frequently treated in the Polyphonic Style, with very great effect, not only by the Great Masters of the 16th century, but even as late as the time of Colonna, whose Responsoria of the Office for the Dead, for 8 Voices, are written with intense appreciation of the solemn import of the text.
A large collection of very fine examples—including an exquisitely beautiful set for Holy Week, by Vittoria—will be found in vol. iv. of Proske's 'Musica Divina.'[ W. S. R. ]