A short piece of music set to
Latin (and only Latin) words, and sung instead of, or immediately after, the
Offertorium, or as a detached piece in extra-
liturgical functions. The origin of the name is a matter of debate. The most generally accepted derivation is from the Latin motus, "movement"; but the
French mot, "word", or "phrase" (old usage), has also been suggested. Unlike an
Anthem, which uses the
vernacular (such as
Tavener's
The Lamb).
Various motets include both Mozart's and William Byrd's Ave Verum Corpus, and many were written by others such as Samuel Wesley, Palestrina and Lully.