Motet

Motet

Period: Jan 1, 1100 to Dec 31, 1999

Leoninus

Jan 1, 1150

Leoninus born
Died: 1201
Influential person: create Magnus liber, important collection of organum, worked in France

Perotinus

Jan 1, 1160

Perontinus born
Died: 1230
Influential Figure: modernized Leoninus's Magnus liber, composer in France in style of Ars Antiqua

13th century motet developments

Jan 1, 1200

Loosening of tenor rhythms
Formulation of the system of rhythmic modes
Introduction of the vernacular

Motet Development: rhythmic redistribution

Jan 1, 1200

Repetition of Gregorian melisma to displace the pitch in the second statment became a favorite compositional procedure

Motet Developments: rhythm

Jan 1, 1200

1200-1220
Loosening of tenor rhythms
Formulation of the system of rhythmic modes
Introduction of the vernacular

Early English Motet

Nov 21, 1200

Textual troping of melismatic polyphony in clausula, organum, and conductus
Latin motets primary focus

Rondellus and voice-exchange

Nov 21, 1200

Single text tossed back and forth among parts
Hallmark of large-scale troped chant settings

Development of French motet

Jan 1, 1230

1230-1250
Increase in prominance of French motet over Latin motet
Cultivation of witty, punning lyrics

French Double Motet

Nov 21, 1230

Popular for most of the 13th century
Increase in rhythmic quality of the tenor
Demonstrate secularization of motet genre

Bilingual 'macaronic' double motet

Nov 21, 1250

Demonstrate musical trend towards complexity
Utlized two languages in one song: typically Latin and French

French Double motet: evolution

Nov 21, 1250

Rhythmic modes no longer successful: increasing subdivision of brevis
Franconian rhythmic dictation

Notre Dame: the end of a trend

Nov 21, 1250

Notre Dame tradition ceased to be a leader in music: clausulas no longer necessary

Franconian motet style

Nov 21, 1250

Complicated phrase structure
Inescapable regularity of neutral beats of the breve
Mechanical way of measuring time

Pes motets

Nov 21, 1250

Chain of melodic elements repeated in pairs
Only one melodic element stated more than twice creates a melodic ostinato

Petronian motet

Nov 21, 1275

Late 13th century
Lively tenor

Motet end of 13th century

Nov 21, 1290

Concise tonal, temporal, and poetic form
superstrucutre designed proportionately to structure

Isomelic Motets

Nov 21, 1300

Musical repetitions in tenor and uper voices
Could have five-voices

Ars Nova motet

Nov 21, 1314

2 independent upper voices with nearly equal range and rhythmic activity
Tenor moves slower, rigid pattern

Johannes Ciconia

Nov 21, 1370

Ciconia born
Died: 1412
Influential person: used equal discantus from Italy

Leonel Power

Nov 21, 1370

Leonel Power born
Died: June 5, 1445
Influential person: wrote motets address the cult of the Virgin - Marian antiphons
Traditional plainchant

Mensuration/Isorhythmic Motet

Nov 21, 1375

Motet development

John Dunstable

Jan 1, 1390

John Dunstable born
Died: December 24, 1453 wrote isorhythmic motets: Ven Sancte Spiritus

Guillaume Du Fay

Aug 5, 1397

Guillaume Du Fay was born
Died: November 27, 1474
Influential person: composer of Renaissance motets

French motet

Nov 21, 1400

Include isomelism and imitation - increase in importance

Italian motet

Nov 21, 1400

Latin
Subject matter: ceremonial
Charactistically for 3 voices (upper voices equal in range and rhythmic-melodic activity)

Renaissance begins

Nov 21, 1400

Begin in 15th century

Shift in function of motet

Nov 21, 1400

Musical trend: motet return to primarily liturgical and devotional purpose

Johannes Brassart

Nov 21, 1400

Brassart born
Died: October 22, 1455 Wrote: Summus secretanrius
Equal-discantus style

Secular chanson

Nov 21, 1400

all 3 voices newly composed
Triadic harmony

Motet Development: treble-dominated style

Nov 21, 1400

England

Nov 21, 1400

Juxtaposition of choirs with varying numbers and different ranges
use of imiation after 1500

Nicolas Gombert

Nov 21, 1405

Nicolas Gombert born
Died: 1560
Influential person: thicker sonorities, use 5-6 voices in many motets, like full contrapuntal textures

Equal-discantus style

Nov 21, 1410

Upper voices (two) have equal melodic weight, often have close imitation
Tenor: faster rhythms, newly composed
Divided into two halves

Johannes Ockeghem

Nov 21, 1410

Johannes Ockeghem born
Died: February 6, 1497
Influential person: coposer 15th century motet

Council of Konstanz

Nov 21, 1414

Encouraged wide travel of composers and exchange of music
Lots of church councils at time
Drew bishops and musicians from England

Vasilissa ergo gaude

Nov 21, 1420

Youtube Link Composer: Du Fay
Equal discantus style

Flos florum

Nov 21, 1420

Youtube Link Composer; Du Fay
Treble-dominated
Simple homophony in English discant sytle
CHanson format
equal discantus
Full isorhythm

Cultural/Musical Trends: favoured texts

Nov 21, 1425

Texts were no longer like to cantus firmus of the gradual of the Mass.
Cult of the Virgin

Ave regina celorum

Nov 21, 1425

Youtube Link
Date unknown
Composer: Du Fay Tenor cantus firmus
Four voices spread more evenly over ranges of standard human voice

Johannes Regim

Nov 21, 1425

Johannes Regim born
Died: 1496 Cantus firmi

Antoine Busnoys

Nov 21, 1430

Antoine Busnoys born
Died: November 6, 1492
Influential person: composer 15th motet

Arnold de Lantins

Nov 21, 1432

Died: 1432
Composer of equal-discantus style
Tota pulchra es

Isorhythmic composition

Nov 21, 1440

Isorhythmic motets decrease in popularity as isorhythmic composition increase in cyclic mass Ordinary settings

Jean Mouton

Nov 21, 1459

Youtube LinkJean Mouton born
Died: October 30, 1522
Contemporary of Josquin: France
Influential person: balanced melodic lines, clear formal structures

Mort tu as navre

Nov 21, 1460

Youtube Link
Composer: Ockeghem
Establish new genre - motet-chanson

Motet-chanson

Nov 21, 1460

Ockeghem
top voice in vernacular
Use of pre-existing melody as tenor cantus firmus

Motetti missales

Nov 21, 1470

Scored for four voices (not five)
No cantus firmus
Predominantely syllabic style

Josquin des Prez

Nov 21, 1470

Born: exact date unknown
Died: August 27, 1521
Influentiel person: key in development late 15th - early 16th

Motet development: Imitation

Nov 21, 1475

Late 15th century
Josquin des Prez
successive points of imitation

Ave Maria...virgo serena

Nov 21, 1484

Youtube link
Composer: Josquin Imitation!
Successive points of imitation, homophonic declamation, free contrapuntal writing, contrasting textures and timbres from alternation of duos and trios, rhythmic variety from shift binary meter to ternary

I-Rvat

Nov 21, 1490

Manuscript choirbook
Includes 41 motets

Nicolas Gombert

Nov 21, 1495

Nicolas Gombert born
Died: 1560
Netherlands:
Influential person: contemporaries of Josquin, used syntactic imitation, had thick sonorities

Constanzo Festa

Nov 21, 1495

Constanzo Festa born
Died: April 10, 1545
Influential person: Italy, contemporary Josquen
Practice of writing motets for divided choir

Miserere mei, Deus

Nov 21, 1500

Youtube Link
Composer: Josquin
No definite date
Use of musical text-setting

Spain

Nov 21, 1500

Leading composers: Juan de Anchieta & Francisco de Penalosa
Write similar to Netherlanders style
Use of cantus firmus, syntactic imitation, fuller sonorities and homophonic texture

Germany

Nov 21, 1500

Characteristics of Franco-Flemish musicians
Enjoyed Josquin
Protestant: sing in vernacular

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Feb 3, 1525

Palestrina born
Died: February 2, 1594
Influential person: 16th century motet composer
Conservative style: chant important melodic element, use contrasting pairs, alternate between imitative polyphony and homophony

Orlande de Lassus

Nov 21, 1532

Orlande de Lassus born
Died: June 14, 1594
Spain
Influential person: style freer than Palestrina, wide repertory of rhetorical gestures

Tomás Luis de Victoria

Nov 21, 1548

Born: 1548
Died: August 20, 1611
Spain
Influential person: 16th century composer motets, "Spanish Palestrina"

Giovanni Gabrieli

Nov 21, 1554

Giovanni Gabrieli born
Died: August 12, 1612
Influential person: development of the split chorus, 'mixed concertato' style of the large motet using solo voices, instruments, full choir, and orchestra

Lodovico Grossi da Viadana

Nov 21, 1560

Lodovico Grossi da Viadana born
Died: May 2, 1627
Influential person: first to use organ continuo, advocates smallgroups

Heinrich Schütz

Oct 8, 1585

Died: November 6, 1672
Influential person: renounce madrigalism emphasis
Sought balance between contrapuntal organization and musical interpretation of text
Late style: emphasis on detached, harmonically orientated sound

Alessandro Grandi

Nov 21, 1586

Died: 1630
Influential person: led small motets to popularity in Venice

Polychordal

Nov 21, 1600

Polychordal style develop in Italy in early 16th century

Concertato Motet

Nov 21, 1600

Rise of concertato motet to high artistic level thanks to the compositions of Grandi, Donati, Anerio, Agazzari, and Cifra

Lutheran Motets

Nov 21, 1600

Liedmotette
Chorale motet
Spruchmotette

Exsultate Justi

Nov 21, 1602

Youtube Link
Composer: Viadana

Small motets

Nov 21, 1620

In vogue in Venice
1-2 voices with violins and continue

Sacred Madrigals

Nov 21, 1625

The addition of madrigal elements to motets resulting in what came to be known as 'sacred madrigals'

Development of Double-chorus concertato motet

Nov 21, 1630

Key composers: Jean Veillot, Thomas Gobert, and Nicolas Forme
Instruments used to double the chorus
This form of motet was the groundwork for the grand motet

Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Nov 21, 1643

Died: February 24, 1704
Influential person: used conservative harmonic vocabulary and uses primarily homophonic textures BUT used 4-part voices instead of 5-part
Composer of grands motets and petit motet

Motets move to the opera house

Nov 21, 1650

Sonatas and concertos replaced motets in the church
Motets moved to opera houses and were written by composers such as Cavalli, Legrenzi, and Ziani who were as well known for their sacred music as their secular

Orchestral Motet

Nov 21, 1650

Created by Scarlatti, Durante, and Leo - the orchestral motet assumed elements of opera including recitative and da capo aria schemes.
Handel wrote orchestral motets while in Rome

Concertato Solo Motet

Nov 21, 1650

Developed to offer a less demanding and more practical alternative to the large vocal concerto

Petit motet and Grands motets

Nov 21, 1652

Du Mont introduced these two types of motet to France between 1652-1671.
Petit motet: 1-3 voices and continuo, light polyphony, echo effect, dialogue techniques, word-painting, and Italianate chains of suspensions
Grands motets: very long, have weighty homophonic choruses with unceasing speech rhythms, and are a secularized ‘concert spirituel’ without liturgical function

Michel-Richard de Lalande

Dec 15, 1657

Died: 18 June 1726
Influential person: composer of French grands motets in late 1600s
Known for sensitive interpretation of the texts of Latin psalms, expressed through harmonies and melodic figures

Johann Sebastian Bach

Mar 31, 1685

Johann Sebastian Bach born
Died: July 28, 1750
Influential person: composed many motets including those using cantus firmus and a double chorus

Decline of the motet

Nov 21, 1700

As a result of changing public preferences, the motet fell from popularity

J.B. Eberlin

Mar 27, 1702

J.B. Eberlin born
Died: June 19, 1762
Influential person: Latin motets prior to 1830, composed over 300 motets
Located in Salzburg, Austria

J.F. Doles

Jan 1, 1714

I was unable to locate date of birth or death
Influential person: student of J.S. Bach, composed Protestant 18th century motet, works demonstrated modest achievements of 18th century motets
Work included 15 double chorus motets

G.A. Homilius

Feb 2, 1714

G.A. Homilius born
Died: June 2, 1785
Influential person: student of J.S. Bach, composed Protestant 18th century motet, works demonstrated modest achievements of 18th century motets
Works included 60+ motets after 1755

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Mar 8, 1714

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Died: December 14, 1788
Influential person: composer of 18th century Protestant motet

J.H. Rolle

Dec 23, 1716

[Youtube Link](December 23, 1716, Quedlinburg, GermanyDied: December 29, 1785)J.H. Rolle born
Died: December 29, 1785
Influential person: wrote over 60 Protestant 18th century motets, includes "Alles Fleisch ist wie Gras"

Lobet den Herrn - BWV 230

Jan 1, 1725

Youtube Link Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Importance: composition by Bach, example of Protestant motet

Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden

Nov 21, 1725

Youtube Link
Composer: J.S. Bach
Exact date unsure

Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach

Jun 21, 1732

Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach born
Died: January 26, 1795
Influential person: composer of Protestant 18th century motet

Michael Haydn

Sep 14, 1737

Michael Haydn born
Died: August 10, 1806
Influential person: writer of Latin motets prior to 1830, influenced style of Mozart
Style: brightly coloured, extrovert works, with little aspects of strong personal faith

Stylistic Developments

Jan 1, 1750

Stylistic developments in secular music resulted in a far removal from the tradition of church music

Musical Developments: Instrumentation

Jan 1, 1750

Development of four-part chorus, orchestra, and sometimes solo voices in Latin motet prior to 1830

Cultural/Musical Trend: Anglican churches

Jan 1, 1750

1750-1899
Anglican churches sing in translation the music of Tallis and Byrd

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Jan 27, 1756

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart born
Died: December 5, 1791
Influential person: composer of Latin motets prior to 1830
Style: brightly coloured, extrovert works, little emphasis on strong personal faith
Most works: four-part chorus with orchestra of symphonic preportion (some solo voices)

Ave verum corpus

Jun 16, 1791

Youtube link Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Exception to Mozart's typical style: intimate, expressive homophony, simple accompaniament of strings and continuo

Franz Liszt

Oct 22, 1811

Franz Liszt was born.
Death: July 31, 1886
Influential composer on 19th century Latin motet

Giuseppe Verdi

Oct 10, 1813

Giuseppe Verdi
Death: January 27, 1901
Influential Person: Latin motet composer of 19th century

Institution Royale de Musique Classique et Religieuse

Jan 1, 1818

Founded by Alexandre Choron
Location: France
Studies: performnce of Reanissance music, Gregorian chant, and 16th-century polyphony

Charles Gounod

Jun 17, 1818

Charles Gounod born
Died: October 18, 1893
Influential person: composer of Latin motets in the 19th century in France
Works include: Motets solennels 1856-66, three volumes of Chants sacres (1878)

Anton Bruckner

Sep 4, 1824

Anton Bruckner born
Died: October 11, 1896
Influential person: composer of Latin, 19th century motets, revived style of Viennese school in some motets, most motets unaccompanied or only organ
Motets: peak in Catholic motet of late 19th century

Cultural/Musical Trend: Cecilian movement

Jan 1, 1830

The Cecilian movement sought a rejection of the symphonic church music of the early 19th century and desired a return to the simpler a cappella motets of the late Renaissance. Results: Renewed interest in music of Palestrina, Tallis, Byrd, and Lassus

Johannes Brahms

May 7, 1833

Johannes Brahms
Death: April 3, 1897
Influential person: Composer of Protestant motet during 19th century

Pope Pius X

Jun 2, 1835

Pope Pius X born
Died: August 20, 1914
Influential person: influnced musical trends of the 20th century

Charles Villier Stanford

Sep 30, 1852

Charles Stanford born
Died: March 29, 1924 Influential person: composer of 20th century Latin motets

Locus iste

Jan 1, 1869

Youtube link Composer: Anton Bruckner

Ave verum corpus

Jan 1, 1871

Youtube link Composer: Franz Liszt
Importance: contrasts sharply with typical flamboyant piano works. Uses only chorus and organ

Fest- und Gedenksprüche, Op. 109 - 3. Wo ist ein so herrlich Volk

Jan 1, 1890

Youtube Link Composer: Brahms
Importance: use of biblical text (not mass text), in German, important place in 19th century German motet, uses Brahms's personal style
Uses double chorus

Cultural/Musical Trend: Latin motets in Anglican churches

Jan 1, 1900

Anglican churches began to sing Latin motets in their original words Motet took second place to the anthem in original church music

Cultural/Musical Trend: Motu proprio

Jan 1, 1903

Motu proprio: established by Pope Pius X Importance: favored Gregorian chant and Palestrina's style as model for sacred music
Advocated the avoidence of the fullness of motet

Op. 38 - Justorum animae, Coelos ascendit, Beati quorum

Jan 1, 1905

Youtube Link Composer: Charles Stanford
Importance: Repertory of most English cathedrals

Bernard Naylor

Nov 22, 1907

Bernard Naylor born
Died: May 19 or 20, 1986
Influential person: composer of English 20th century motets

Nine motets of 1952

Jan 1, 1952

Sample Link Composer: Naylor
Importance: landmark in the development of the motet in England