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Anthem facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

An anthem is a special piece of music. It's often sung by a choir in a church service, especially in the Anglican Church. What makes an anthem different from a motet is that anthems are usually sung in English. Most anthems are also played with an organ.

Today, the word "anthem" can also mean "a song of celebration." Many countries even have patriotic anthems that celebrate their nation.

The History of Anthems

How Church Anthems Began

Anthems for church services have been written for a long time. This started around the time King Henry VIII had disagreements with the Pope. He decided to create the English Anglican Church. Church composers were then asked to write music in English. The words for these songs usually came from the Bible.

We know that as early as 1502, a composer named Fayrfax was paid for writing an anthem. After the Reformation, many more anthems were composed. At first, they were similar to motets, but in English. Over time, the English anthem developed its own unique style.

Two Main Types of Anthems

Two main types of anthems became popular:

  • Full Anthem: In this type, the entire song is sung by the full choir.
  • Verse Anthem: This type is usually longer. It has parts sung by solo singers, with the full choir joining in for choruses in between.

Famous Anthem Composers

Many music directors of cathedrals and large churches have written anthems. Here are some of the most famous composers known for their anthems:

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