Singing: What's This Technique Called?

[Jinx]

My 8 year old daughter is in a dance recital where an older girl is singing a solo, kinda. But, the younger girls are kinda all singing a response to the soloist. Is there a name for this technique? It is not truly in a responsive nature, however. To help clarify, the soloist has a solo part, and the young girls sing to her before and after her part...as they dance around her.

[Paul in Qatar]

Oddly, I have never heard it called anything but "Call and response." We ought to get a nice Italian name for it.

[The Scrivener]

Ditto for "call and response," which is also a prominent feature in contemporary Afro-pop (as in West African juju).

[ragerdude]

In sacred music, this is called "antiphonal." Two parts (or two choirs) alternate their singing to one another, almost like a dialogue.

[t-bonham@scc.net]

In sacred music, this is called "antiphonal." Two parts (or two choirs) alternate their singing to one another, almost like a dialogue.Close, but I believe antiphonal involves two singing groups of equal strength, so that wouldn't apply to a soloist alternating with a choir.

[Derleth]

Close, but I believe antiphonal involves two singing groups of equal strength, so that wouldn't apply to a soloist alternating with a choir.Loud Howard wishes to disagree. Bring earplugs.