motet
Unaccompanied choral piece
A motet is a choral composition, typically sacred and unaccompanied, setting a religious text to polyphonic music.
The form flourished from medieval times through the Renaissance and Baroque periods: Bach's motets remain staples of the choral repertoire.
Unlike hymns, motets are performed by trained choirs rather than congregations.
Simultaneous independent melodies
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- imitationCopy of the original
- canonAccepted authoritative works
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
contrapuntal · texture · consonance · dissonance · interval · cadence · modulation · voicing
Formal worship structure
- massQuantity of matter
- vespersEvening devotional service
- psalmSacred scriptural song
- antiphonAlternating liturgical song
canticle · hymn · Eucharist · offertory · gradual · introit · benediction · sacrament
Organized group of singers
- singersThose who vocalize melodies
- voicesSounds producing speech
- madrigalUnaccompanied Renaissance choral composition
- anthemOfficial song of praise
cantata · chorale · acapella · ensemble · vocal · oratorio · chanson · glee
Polar aviation pioneer
- VictoriaFemale monarch's name
- imitativeCopying others' style
- VenetianOf or from Venice
- parodySatirical imitation
paraphrase · chancel · chapel · court
Medieval Parisian Gothic cathedral
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- colorVisual hue property
- tenorEssential meaning or import
counterpoint
Simultaneous independent melodies
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- imitationCopy of the original
- canonAccepted authoritative works
fugue · contrapuntal · texture · consonance · dissonance · interval · cadence · modulation · voicing · homophony
liturgy
Formal worship structure
antiphon · canticle · hymn · Eucharist · offertory · gradual · introit · benediction · sacrament · devotional
choir
Organized group of singers
- singersThose who vocalize melodies
- voicesSounds producing speech
- madrigalUnaccompanied Renaissance choral composition
anthem · cantata · chorale · acapella · ensemble · vocal · oratorio · chanson · glee · consort
Byrd
Polar aviation pioneer
parody · paraphrase · chancel · chapel · court
Notre-Dame
Medieval Parisian Gothic cathedral
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- colorVisual hue property
- tenorEssential meaning or import
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
- choir termssoprano, alto, tenor, bass, baritone
- compositionssymphony, concerto, sonata, suite, overture
- musical piecesaria, cantata, concerto, etude, fugue
- vocal musicsong, vocals, soprano, tenor, alto
- sacred musichymns, hymn, anthem, anthems, gospel
motetmadrigal
Unaccompanied Renaissance choral composition
chanson · frottola · drinking song · love song · lied
motetplainchant
Unaccompanied liturgical melody
Gregorian chant · plainsong · monody · hymn tune · chorale
- school mottoInstitution's guiding phrase
- national mottoCountry's official slogan
- family mottoInherited saying representing lineage
- bon motClever, memorable remark
- state mottoOfficial regional slogan
- mot justeIdeally suited expression