I have an abiding passion for "conversational" songs that tell a story or an argument via multiple narrators or singers, as per "Don't You Want Me" by the Human League and "Little Talks" by Of Monsters and Men. A lot of love songs and musical numbers hit this, of course, but there's no real "genre" that I've found, especially because I'm not really interested in flat-out love songs with the repetition and refrain, or two voices singing at once; I dig voices in conversation. In "Little Talks," for example, the female singer seems to be suffering from depression and eventually passes away through one means or another. A thing happens--a breakup, a makeup, a murder, a plan, a deal.
Via searching every variation of "conversational duet" I can imagine, I've thrown together a list of somethings that should at least have two vocalists in.. contact, I guess. I focused less on musicals and more on things that seemed like they did or would have a faster beat, as I usually listen to music while walking. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/18acCp10Oh0OL8CpL336dw
I was trying to find a phrase for this concept of back-and-forth dialogue without spoken dialogue, and I came across the concept of "antiphon" in religious music, wherein two choirs alternate their passages. That concept seems like what I'm after--two or more sources/voices, refrains okay, but "story" progression required--but I haven't found anyone using the word "antiphon" in this sense.
I'm not huge into genres or music terminology, just latching onto what sounds catchy for months at a time until I hate it--but is there a phrase out there for the sort of "Baby It's Cold Outside" wolf-and-mouse (or... wolf-and-wolf, for the arguments) dynamic?
Edit: thank you so much! I've added every song given (or one or two if it was an artist or album). I appreciate everyone's help. There's something about a musical discussion or argument that I find really cathartic. I've taken to listening to headphones even in my own house because it makes the songs hit differently.
In the divine liturgy, from where are the antiphons taken (the antiphons after the great litany, which replace the psalms of the typika)? Churches are once again closed in my area as of tomorrow, so I will be praying the typika, but with the feasts of the Circumcision and Theophany coming soon, if possible I would like to pray the typika with the proper antiphons for these feasts if possible. Where may these antiphons be found?
I'm looking particularly for English organs, preferably of the 19th century, that split the divisions on the left and right side of the choir, instead of placed to one side or on a choir screen as they typically are in their 18th/19th century construction. I'm looking for something like two organs facing each other from the sides of the nave.
Although I am interested in any examples of this "collegiate" style from English organs, any organ in that style is helpful for what I'm looking for.
One example I've found is the PJ Morgan Opus 38 in St. Pauls Roman Catholic Church in Princeton, NJ, but is at the rear of the nave.
I'm looking for a translation of this antiphonal manuscript leaf. It came with the following information: Single vellum leaf, 530 x 365 mm, manuscript in Latin, in black and red ink, each side with five lines of five stave music ruled in red, one enlarged capital letter, very good condition. An Antiphonary is a Catholic liturgical book of chants sung at Mass by cantor, congregation and choir.
I'd love to know what it says.
http://imgur.com/8eZtl http://imgur.com/bBjJB
Not really grasping the concept, the dictionary definition is "A performance style in which an ensemble is divided into two or more groups, performing alternately as separate groups and in unison." Which seems unclear to me, thanks.
