: a polyphonic choral composition on a sacred text usually without instrumental accompaniment
Examples of motet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to Francisco, the composers represented no less than 30 print collections of solo songs, cantatas, motets, polyphonic works, settings for psalms and masses, a magnificat, a vespers service, a dozen sonatas, and scores for nine operas and other staged works.
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Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
In Alium, the famous 40-part motet.
—Corey Seymour, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2021
In between the driving turbulence of its first movement and an unremittingly grim passacaglia as its final movement was an adaptation of a medieval form—the isorhythmic motet—in which searing gestures alternated with passages of ethereal tranquility.
—Walter Simmons, Harper's Magazine, 25 May 2021
An early breakthrough came from listening to a traditional singer of the Serer people, whose plaintive melody reminded Catta of a Renaissance motet.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022
Philippe Herreweghe led his Ghent choir in a fine performance of Mendelssohn’s motet.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 28 Aug. 2022
As well as hymns, a motet and a sermon, the solemn vespers would include a gigantic two-part oratorio composed by the church’s Cantor—the director of music—with a text taken from St. Matthew’s gospel.
—Boyd Tonkin, WSJ, 14 Apr. 2022
The ceiling is tall and arched, like the hallways of a cloister, and offers acoustics befitting a motet.
—Gregory Barber, Wired, 10 Feb. 2022
But the motet ends with the calm assurance of a Lutheran hymn.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 4 Oct. 2021
Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
In Alium, the famous 40-part motet.
—Corey Seymour, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2021
In between the driving turbulence of its first movement and an unremittingly grim passacaglia as its final movement was an adaptation of a medieval form—the isorhythmic motet—in which searing gestures alternated with passages of ethereal tranquility.
—Walter Simmons, Harper's Magazine, 25 May 2021
An early breakthrough came from listening to a traditional singer of the Serer people, whose plaintive melody reminded Catta of a Renaissance motet.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022
Philippe Herreweghe led his Ghent choir in a fine performance of Mendelssohn’s motet.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 28 Aug. 2022
As well as hymns, a motet and a sermon, the solemn vespers would include a gigantic two-part oratorio composed by the church’s Cantor—the director of music—with a text taken from St. Matthew’s gospel.
—Boyd Tonkin, WSJ, 14 Apr. 2022
The ceiling is tall and arched, like the hallways of a cloister, and offers acoustics befitting a motet.
—Gregory Barber, Wired, 10 Feb. 2022
But the motet ends with the calm assurance of a Lutheran hymn.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 4 Oct. 2021
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“Motet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motet. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
motet
noun
mo·tet
mō-ˈtet 
: a form of church music to be sung by several voices usually without accompanying instruments and with several melodies woven together
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