What is a Motet?
Q: What is a Motet?
A: A Motet is a piece of music for a church service sung by a choir without using any instruments. The words are usually in Latin, but if the words are written in English for the Anglican church, it is called an anthem.
Q: When did people start writing Motets?
A: People have been writing Motets since the Middle Ages.
Q: How were Medieval motets structured?
A: Medieval motets often had very complex rhythms with the tenor having the tune, which might be a folk tune, and two voices putting quite complicated accompaniments on top.
Q: Who was one of the most famous medieval composers who wrote motets?
A: Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377) was one of the most famous medieval composers who wrote motets.
Q: How were Renaissance motets structured?
A: Renaissance motets were usually polyphonic meaning that different voices such as soprano, alto, tenor and bass would be singing different parts of the melody at the same time making it very beautiful but quite complicated to listen to.
Q: Who was one of the most famous Baroque period composers who wrote Motets?
A: Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) was one of the most famous Baroque period composers who wrote Motets which he called “Cantiones Sacrae” (meaning “sacred songs”).
Q: Who composed Ave Verum Corpus during Classical period?
A: Mozart composed Ave Verum Corpus during Classical period.
