Mostly Motets is a small vocal ensemble that sings sacred works by popular High Renaissance composers (Tallis, Byrd, Victoria, Palestrina, etc.) as well as less-often performed earlier music (Dufay, Desprez, Frye, chant, Middle English songs, etc.).
The motet is a musical form that reached its zenith in the sixteenth century. As the term was used then, motets were polyphonic works, often based on chant (plainsong), having a sacred theme, and sung without instrumental accompaniment.
The group's roots can be traced back to informal sessions starting in 1998 in Santa Rosa, California, where regularly scheduled rehearsals began in January of 2004. The ensemble now rehearses in the Bay Area (primarily Berkeley and San Francisco) and performs at concerts, festivals, and religious services in the region. Mostly Motets is affiliated with the San Francisco Early Music Society and Early Music America. Other than that, it has no religious, collegiate, or other institutional affiliations.
