Motet - Advanced Higher

Motet

A motet is a Latin piece of sacred choral music from the Renaissance period.

Its language will be Latin as it is from the Catholic tradition, but it will not be the words of the Mass.

To understand what the motet's place is in relation to the Mass, you need to understand truly what the Mass is.

The Mass is the daily "words" of the Catholic church. It never changes, and it follows a strict format because the words are carefully selected to take the congregation through 5 important areas of worship:

1. Introductory rites - where the congregation is welcomed by the priest, they pray for forgiveness for their sins (Kyrie Eleison) and then praise and thank God for everything (Gloria)
2. Liturgy of the Word - where there is a reading from the old testament, the new testament and a Gospel passage followed by a homily or sermon from the priest which reflects on the Gospel passage from that day's readings. The congregation then stands and professes their faith (Credo in unum Deum)
3. Liturgy of the Eucharist - Prayers are said over the bread and wine that becomes the body and blood of Christ, and the priest invites the congregation to join in those prayers to become fully prepared to receive communion (Sanctus, Sanctus Sanctus, followed by Benedictus).
4. Communion rite -  Just before the congregation receives communion they recite Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world... (Agnus Dei)
5. Conclusion and Dismissal - After communion is received by all in the church, the priest tells the congregation to go in peace.

So in order to do all of this properly the faithful and the priest follow a strict "script". The script, in the Renaissance era, was always in Latin. These days, it's exactly the same format, but it's in English, or German, or Spanish, depending where you are in the world.

Motets aren't in the Mass.

But they are still Latin!

So think of a church - busy place. Dancing classes, clubs, nurseries, after school care... but also several prayer groups, choir rehearsals, "mums" groups and "scripture" groups and "singles nights", sometimes.

These groups will often meet and pray together, given their common faith. Prayers were also prescribed as penance after a confession was made - just to make everything alright with God again.

Families were encouraged to pray together in the house. Folk said prayers over sick people, dying people, newborns, healthy people... much the same way as holy people do now.

Prayers and churches - they go hand in hand.

In a Catholic church in the Renaissance period, the prayers all happened in Latin. The addition of music made it interesting and more fun to join in with for the guys who were along for the socialising.

Common prayers that still get spoken in Latin and you might have heard (Catholic or not!) are:

Ave Maria

Salve Regina

Veni Sancte Spiritus

So how do you tell them apart?

By knowing the words of the Mass, and NOT HEARING THEM.

You don't need a degree in Latin to study Advanced Higher music. But you are expected to know what the words of the Mass are, and be able to hear them in an excerpt of the Mass. So, by that same logic, you should be able to hear LATIN WORDS, that AREN'T THE WORDS OF THE MASS.

Guess what that all adds up to?

Bingo, a motet.

Summary

A motet is essentially the Catholic equivalent to an Anthem.

Motets are in Latin

Soprano Alto Tenor Bass

NOT A MASS

Unaccompanied

Polyphonic

Here's one that featured in 50 Shades of Grey.