ANTHEM, a church-song performed in cathedral-service
by choristers, who sung alternately. It was used
to denote both psalms and hymns, when performed in
this manner. But, at present, anthem is used in a more
confined sense, being applied to certain passages taken
out of the scriptures, and adapted to a particular solemnity. Anthems were first introduced in the reformed service of the English church, in the beginning of the reign of Queen Elisabeth.