can·ti·cle / ˈkantikəl/ • n. 1. a hymn or chant, typically with a biblical text, forming a regular part of a church service.2. (Can·ti·cles or Can·ti·cle of Can·ti·cles) another name for Song of Songs (esp. in the Vulgate Bible).

canticle.
1. A Bible hymn (other than a psalm) as used in the liturgy of a Christian church. In the RC Church the Canticles drawn from the New Testament are called the Evangelical Canticles or Major Canticles, in distinction from those drawn from the Old Testament, which are called the Minor Canticles.

2. Concert work with (usually but not exclusively) religious text, particularly favoured by Britten (see below).

Canticles. Name given by Britten to 5 of his comps. I (1947) Op.40, is a setting of a poem by Francis Quarles (My beloved is mine) and is sub-titled ‘In Memory of Dick Sheppard’ (a former vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London); II (1952) Abraham and Isaac, Op.51, on a text from a Chester miracle play, for cont. (or counterten.), ten., and pf.; III (1954) Still Falls the Rain, Op.55, for ten., hn., and pf., poem by Edith Sitwell; IV (1971) Journey of the Magi, Op.86, for counterten., ten., bar., and pf., poem by T. S. Eliot; V (1974) The Death of St Narcissus, Op.89, for ten. and harp, poem by Eliot.

Canticle. A song or prayer from the Bible (other than a Psalm) used in Christian worship. The Canticle of the Sun is a hymn of praise to God revealed in nature, composed by St Francis, probably in 1225.

canticle a hymn or chant, typically with a biblical text, forming a regular part of a church service. The word is recorded from Middle English and comes from Latin canticulum ‘little song’.

The Canticles or Canticle of Canticles is another name for the Song of Songs (especially in the Vulgate).