ABSTRACT
Versicles and their attendant responses, together known as dialogues, are found throughout the liturgies in books of hours and function as linking devices between different genres or types of action. Structured in a call and response format, the dialogues notably introduce each canonical hour of a liturgical office, following a simple recitation formula. They are arguably the most familiar of items in the liturgy but have scarcely been recognized in the literature on books of hours as near-automatic vocal exchanges fixed in the Christian consciousness. A review of the texts and meanings of the chief salutatory versicles leads to discussion of their musical realization. The chapter concludes with an exploration of the Pater noster in office liturgies. While not properly a versicle and response, a brief dialogue occurs at the end of the Lord’s Prayer, sensitively marked for users books of hours.
