How did antiphonal singing work in early societies?

Antiphonal singing is a method of musical performance characterized by the alternating use of two choirs or groups of singers. This practice is of great antiquity, with historical roots in ancient Hebrew worship and early Christian liturgies.12

In these early societies, the technique functioned through the following structures:

• Alternating Choirs: Two distinct choirs would alternate singing segments of a text, such as half-lines of psalm verses.1
• Refrain Integration: Alternatively, one choir might sing the verses of a psalm while the other choir provided a short refrain, known as an antiphon, between those verses. This created a musical form often represented as A-V-A-V-A, where "A" is the antiphon and "V" is the verse.2
• Liturgical Use: Adopted from Hebrew traditions, this style was introduced into Western Christian liturgy in the 4th century. It was frequently used for psalms and canticles, with the antiphon text typically reflecting the significance of a specific feast day.2

While antiphonal singing relies on the interaction between two groups, it is distinct from responsorial singing, which involves a leader alternating with a chorus.13