A psalm, chant, or musical piece sung before or in introduction to the main anthem or liturgical hymn.
From Latin 'ante' (before) + 'thema' (theme, from Greek 'tithenai' meaning to place). This music term combines a 'before' prefix with the Greek concept of a musical theme or subject.
In medieval and Renaissance choral music, composers carefully structured pieces so that an antethem would set the mood and key before the choir launched into the main anthem—it's the musical equivalent of a preview or warm-up.
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