Anthem

Anthem (a form of Antiphon), in Music, a musical composition set to the words of a psalm or other sacred words, and sung as a part of the service in a church. In the Church of England the anthem, follows after the third collect, The introduction of the anthem as part of the church service dates from the reign of Elizabeth. The number of English composers who have excelled in anthem writing is very large, including Tallis, Byrd, Purcell, Boyce, Attwood, Greene, Gibbons, Goss, etc.