Anglican chant

Anglican (or English) chant is a way to sing unmetrical texts, including psalms and canticles from the Holy Bible, by matching the natural speech-rhythm of the words to the notes of a simple harmonized melody. Today, this type of chant is sung in Anglican and Episcopal churches, as well as Roman Catholic,Lutheran,Presbyterian, and Reformed churches. Within Anglican and Episcopal churches, Anglican chant was previously in more widespread use but today is sung primarily in Anglican cathedrals and also in parish churches that have retained a choral liturgical tradition.

Anglican chant grew out of the plainchant tradition during the English Reformation. When singing a text in Anglican chant, the natural rhythm of the words as they would be spoken by a careful speaker governs how the music is fitted to the words. The majority of the words are freely and rhythmically chanted over the reciting notes, which are found in the first, fourth, eighth, eleventh (etc.) bars of the chant and with the other notes of the music appropriately fitted to the words at the end of each half-verse. The rhythm is based on the natural cadence of speech. Thus, the length of each of these notes bears little relation to the normal musical value of a note such as a minim or semi-breve.