Classical Music Overview: The Motet and the Madrigal

A motet is a major form of Renaissance music in which there are polyphonic settings of Latin text. They are vastly varied choral compositions. They are sacred choral works, but are not part of the liturgical mass; although, because they were not specifically related to the liturgy they could be used in any service. Motets owe their existence largely to the development of the organum tradition, which in turn was adapted from Gregorian chanting. It developed through the Middle Ages and by the Renaissance it was perfected. Josquin's magnum opus Ave Maria is an excellent example of a motet with its austere, canonic opening and its polyphonic techniques.

The polyphony can clearly be heard through the technique in which the entire choir repeats one melody at different times in varying tones. The opening sections' polyphony occurs dramatically with the transition from the highest voice to the lowest, resembling a Gregorian chant. Even though the phrases of this part are balanced in length, the counterpoint increases in density, resulting in a strong climax where all four voices sing simultaneously. Furthermore, Josquin was able to embellish his highly ornate and contrapuntal motets, proving his ingenuity and technicality

Closely related, but subtly different is the madrigal, which was popular in the Renaissance. It was typically a love poem set to a polyphonic texture, with contrasting homophonic sections; it was the most popular and important secular music during the Renaissance. Word painting was the prevalent technique in which music was used as a means of portraying emotions and poetic recitations; using higher or lower tones depending on the text that the madrigal was attempting to portray.

This secular music was typically played for small groups, whereas the motet was used in the Catholic Church's services. Weelkes provides us with a great example of a madrigal in his As Vesta Was Descending, which bears the light mood typical of English madrigals. Word painting is abundant; the word "descending" is sung to downward scales and "ascending" to upward ones; when Vesta's attendants run down the hill in twos, threes, and larger groups, the setting is for two voices, then three voices, then six voices, etc...Along with Weelkes, Jannequin's Song of the Birds is another great example of a madrigal. In this song the connection between nature (or in this case birdsong), love, and music by using choral arrangements to mimic the sounds of birds; from the humorous cuckoos to the full blown morning singing of birds.