Why was the motet more attractive than the Mass to sixteenth-century composers?
A) Polyphony was allowed in the motet but not in the Mass.
B) The motet allowed for different texts, but the Mass always had the same text.
C) The motet was secular, and the Mass was religious.
D) The motet was in the High Renaissance homophonic style, whereas the Mass was usually polyphonic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The motet allowed for composers to set different sacred or secular texts to music, whereas the Mass always had a set text. This allowed for greater artistic expression and variety in the motet compared to the Mass, which may have been a reason why sixteenth-century composers found it more attractive.

Why Was the Motet More Attractive Than the Mass to Sixteenth-Century