A liturgical book containing antiphons, which are portions of Psalms or sentences from Scripture. Antiphons may be recited or sung as responses during liturgy or at the beginning and end of a Canticle, Psalm, or Psalm verse. In the medieval liturgy the antiphons were sung during Matins and Vespers, and for the Introit, Offertory, and Communion of the Mass. After the Council of Trent, the antiphon was sung before and after the Psalm. Antiphonals can be very large books, so that the entire choir that sang the antiphonals could use the same volume. The lettering is very large and in proportion to the size of the volume. The beginning and the end of the antiphons are rubricated, and the initials may be decorated.