A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Versicle

by William Smyth Rockstro

VERSICLE (Lat. Versiculum). A short sentence, in the Offices of the Church, followed by an appropriate Response; as—'V. Domine, in adjutorium meum intende. R. Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.' 'V. God, make speed to save us. R. O Lord, make haste to help us.'

The Versicles—or, rather, the Responses which follow them—from the Office of Vespers, and other Roman Catholic Services, have been harmonised by Vittoria, G. B. Rossi, and other Composers: but none of them will bear any comparison with the matchless English Responses, in all probability set originally to the old Latin words, by our own Tallis, whose solemn harmonies have never been approached, in this particular form of music. Some very fine Responses by Byrd, and other English Composers, will be found, in company with old versions of those of Tallis, in Jebb's Choral Responses.

[ W. S. R. ]