Hmm. You might get into Renaissance polyphony. Simple, clean, long lines that intersect and separate and have ornamentation. Rhythm is not always propulsive, as it doesn't have measure breakdowns like modern music, but the rhythm can get pretty complex, and time signature can shift on a dime. DEFINITELY not syrupy.

Here is an example, the Tallis Scholars singing some Palestrina - it's several movements of one piece in this recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IksdCSgB--g

Here's New York Baroque doing some Salamone Rossi, a Jewish Baroque composer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvyyuMT2s9U

Piffaro, an excellent Philadelphia instrumental group, has some stuff on YouTube as well as various albums: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF1mHF3N5k8

Some small vocal ensembles I love, who do a lot of early music: Hilliard Ensemble, Trio Medieval, Anonymous Four, Boston Camerata.