motet

American  

[moh-tet] / moʊˈtɛt /

noun

Music.

1. a vocal composition in polyphonic style, on a Biblical or similar prose text, intended for use in a church service.

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motet British  

/ məʊˈtɛt /

noun

1. a polyphonic choral composition used as an anthem in the Roman Catholic service

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Etymology

Origin of motet

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French; mot, -et

Example Sentences

The focus is on the Virgin Mary’s special role in the Nativity story, as in a new arrangement of a Renaissance motet by the Portuguese Vicente Lusitano, the first known, published Black composer.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 14, 2023

The only intimation of death came at the end from “Ave Verum Corpus,” a consolatory motet so brief that it could be called a motetlet.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2017

He began with Josquin’s “Ave Christie,” a four-voice motet, as reset for piano in 1988 by the composer Charles Wuorinen.

From New York Times • Dec. 16, 2016

The disc ends with a Palestrina classic, the motet “Sicut cervus.”

From Washington Post • Sep. 9, 2016

The motet had been commissioned by the Duke of Ferrara, Josquin’s employer, who was grieving the recent loss of a man close to him.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall