Singing Motets

It is not easy to sing a motet. Everyone has to sing entirely independently, be immaculately in tune and rhythmically precise, and know how to shape a line. There are always decisions to make about accidentals, and it's rare for voices to start and stop together, so finding good starting places for rehearsal is not easy. This year's motet choir is thrilling to work with. We have wonderful voices and commitment. It has been amazing that every week so far this semester, someone has knocked on my office door and asked to audition. In week four, we have put together Mouton's Benedicta es caelorum and his little Ave Maria. There is still a lot of polishing to do, but we can sing straight through pretty well. Next week we'll begin his Tua est potentia, and I hope to do a Tua est potentia mass. We sing music that has not been recorded (to my knowledge), and it is so exciting to hear it take shape. Even though I have a sense of the sound by studying the score, nothing compares with having it in the ear and being able to live with the memory of these sounds. I am most interested in Mouton's use of pre-existing melodies and the way he uses mode and motive. His music is very unpretentious, but extremely artful, to my ear. Thursday is my favorite day--motets all day long!