Definitions

1. noun

An Italian term for a musical composition, especially a type of motet from the 16th to 18th centuries, characterized by a combination of sacred and secular elements.

“The Baroque period saw the rise of the mottetto, a genre that blended sacred and secular music.”

2. noun

A type of polyphonic musical composition that originated in Italy and combines elements of the motet and the madrigal.

“The composer’s mottetto showcased his mastery of complex polyphony and counterpoint.”