MOTET

By Juliette Farrell

WHAT WAS THE MUSIC LIKE?

I

t was normally a religious work but it could be non religious.

I

t was a vocal composition.

T

he early motets had a slow vocal part with two or three faster vocal parts singing

above.

L

ater motets had up to six separate vocal parts singing at once.

C

an be unaccompanied or instruments could double vocal parts.

CONCEPTS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN MOTETS

P

olyphony - more than one musical line weaving with the others.

I

mitation - melody immediately copied after at a higher or lower

pitch.

C

ounterpoint - a separate melody played with harmony to the

other.

MAIN COMPOSERS

Mozart 27/01/17565/12/1791

Brahms7/05/18333/04/1897

Bach31/03/168528/071750

LISTEN TO SOME EXAMPLES

T

his example shows two motets you can hear a basic

accompaniment in parts and there is a polyphonic

feel you can hear throughout.

h

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLD7FiHaTqE

ANOTHER EXAMPLE

Y

ou can see the singer in this one and the instruments

accompanying them. This motet is by Bach and is called

“Komm, jesu, komm.” which in English means come Jesus

come.

h

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=mJospfuv5po&feature=relmfu