motet

Definition of motetnext

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of motet 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. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024 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 See All Example Sentences for motet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motet
Noun
  • The Spiritual Sound Marc-André Hamelin, Found Objects / Sound Objects The Beths, Straight Line Was a Lie A year like no other, my 2025 in music was filled with joyous arias and madrigals of melancholy.
    Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
  • This is a lovely fundraiser to assist in the preservation of the cemetery, and the day is filled with master gardeners offering advice, madrigals singing, an archaeology talk, refreshments, kids’ activities and lots of lovely spring plants for sale.
    Janet Kusterer, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The machine’s repertoire included answers to 12 riddles, passages from books, and laughing, crying and kissing sounds, as well as arias sung in both male and female voices—all feats that Edison’s phonograph would one day be able to accomplish by recording and playing back the human voice.
    Ron Cowen, Scientific American, 3 June 2026
  • Notable coloratura arias Coloratura arias are found in the works of Mozart, George Frideric Handel, and many other classical composers.
    René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
Noun
  • Brioschi’s sinfonia, Spagnolo explained, was the overture to a Hebrew cantata, the kind of production that regularly involved the collaboration of Jews and non-Jews.
    Collin Ziegler, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Orff originally wrote it for tenor, that soloist’s single appearance in the cantata.
    Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Wembanyama missed seven shots from the floor, going 11 of 18 and silencing the crowd that at one point directed a vulgar chant his way.
    Stephen Whyno, Twin Cities, 9 June 2026
  • The chant bounces off office buildings, train stations and arena walls.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Major stars from his talent agency joined the chorus calling for Casey Wasserman to resign as the chairman of LA28 after emails the mogul exchanged with Ghislaine Maxwell were revealed in the Epstein files in February.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
  • The verse is tethered to the earth; the chorus glides like a 747.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • Above one entryway, a sword is lodged in the stone, said to have found its place there in the eighth century after being thrown more than 100 miles by Roland, the hero of the medieval chanson that bears his name.
    Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
  • There are intoxicating traces of chanson, jazz, chamber pop, and folk.
    Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 2 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • The ballad also aligns with the perspective of Jessie’s (Joan Cusack) abandonment and eventual joining of Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz’s (Tim Allen) crew of toys that once belonged to Andy and now live with Bonnie.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 June 2026
  • His ballads of rainy English angst went over big in the land of sun and surf.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Check out this 1997 live TV version of Paranoid Android, which veers from lullaby to apocalypse within the space of a few minutes.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 May 2026
  • In April 2019, Williams shared a nostalgic video of the two serenading her daughter Rowan with a Cheetah Girls hit-turned-lullaby via FaceTime.
    Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Motet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motet. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on motet

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster