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Succinere

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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Succinctorium, or Succinctory

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(undersinging), a term used to describe a mode of singing in common use in the early age of the Church. A precentor began the verse, and the people joined him in the close. It was often used for the sake of variety in the same service, with alternate psalmody. Ecclesiastical historians relate that Athanasius effected his escape from the church in which he was beset by the Arian soldiery by setting the people to this kind of psalmody, he commanded the deacon to read the psalm, and the people (ὑπακούειν, respondere or succinere) to repeat this clause after him: "For his mercy endureth forever." See Bingham, Christ. Antiq. bk. 14, ch. 1, § 12. (See ACROSROTICS).