motety

Motety is the plural form of motet used in some languages to refer to multiple motets. In English-language usage the standard plural is motets. The term motety is thus better understood in linguistic contexts rather than as a distinct musical category.

A motet is a polyphonic vocal composition, usually sacred, dating from the medieval period through the Renaissance and beyond. It is typically written for an a cappella choir of four or more voices; texts are Latin in medieval and early Renaissance examples, with vernacular languages appearing later.

Origins and development: The motet emerged in 13th-century France as an addition to the Notre Dame school’s polyphony. Early motets often featured three voices with different texts, gradually becoming more elaborate with imitation and varied texts. In the 15th and 16th centuries motets flourished in the Franco-Flemish tradition; composers such as Machaut, Dufay, Ockeghem, and Josquin des Prez contributed. In the Baroque period, composers such as Heinrich Schütz and Johann Sebastian Bach wrote motets intended for sacred services.

Characteristics and forms: Motets are typically polyphonic, employing interweaving voices and counterpoint. They may be through-composed or built around a cantus firmus or a paired-text format, and can be polytextual, meaning different voices sing different texts. They were used in liturgy, devotion, and sometimes courtly or ceremonial contexts.

Legacy and modern performance: Motets remain central to the study of medieval and Renaissance music. Modern choirs perform motets in concert and liturgical settings, with scholarly editions and recordings widely available. Surviving motets come from manuscripts and early printed books.