Chants and Responses Directions for Chanting The vertical dividing-lines in the words for chanting represent those bars in the music that follow the reciting notes. The recitation ends and the rhythmic part of the chant begins with the accented syllable, which is to be considered as having the first of the two counts of a full measure preceding the printed measures of the cadence. If no other word or syllable comes between the accent and the following bar, then the accented syllable must be held through both beats or counts of this preliminary measure. If only one short syllable comes between the accent and the bar, this can usually be taken as the second half of the second beat of the preliminary measure. For example, beginning on the accented syllable to count two beats: The asterisk (*) signifies a slight pause for breath in a long recitation. |