call and response

alternative call-response · alternative call-and-response

1. uncountableAn interaction between speaker and listener, in which statements of the speaker are rapidly followed by responses from the listener.

   An oath sworn or affirmed orally is often given in call and response, where the official reads each line of the oath, and the affiant repeats the line back.

   1 more example

   Donald Trump didn’t shy away from several Qanon chants that erupted throughout the last leg of his New Hampshire campaign on Monday. ¶ During a quiet moment of the rally, attendees engaged in a bit of call-and-response with the GOP front-runner, shouting things at Trump for his reactions.

   2024 January 23, Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, “A Creepy QAnon Chant Rises at Trump’s Rally—and He Nods and Smiles”, in The New Republic

2. uncountablesingingA musical technique in which one or more performers calls and others, often the audience, respond with alternating musical phrases.
3. uncountablelifestyleA prayer or preaching verbal technique similar to this.

   Synonyms: litany