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Understanding Music Textures: Types Explained

Music can be built up of different layers or textures. This document defines and discusses several common musical textures: monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic, heterophonic, and imitative. Each texture is defined and examples are provided of musical genres and styles where each texture is often found. Key aspects to listen for in each texture are also highlighted.

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Sam Horseman
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129 views8 pages

Understanding Music Textures: Types Explained

Music can be built up of different layers or textures. This document defines and discusses several common musical textures: monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic, heterophonic, and imitative. Each texture is defined and examples are provided of musical genres and styles where each texture is often found. Key aspects to listen for in each texture are also highlighted.

Uploaded by

Sam Horseman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Music is built up of

LAYERS.

The way these layers


interweave creates
different effects within
the music.

We will look at the


following textures:

Monophonic
Homophonic
Polyphonic
Heterophonic
Imitative
"mono" + "phonic" =
"monophonic"
"one" + "sound" = "one
sound
Definition: Music with a single melody line only.

Found in all sorts of


music
but often used in
Gregorian
Chant
Folk music

There can be more than one person singing or playing


as long as they are singing/playing the same melody in
unison or octaves.
Oct" = Eight (8 notes
apart)

Definition: The same melody is played


simultaneously in different pitches 8
notes apart.

Found in all sorts of


music
but often used in
Vocal music
Orchestral
music
Piano music
Listen out for thickened versions of a melody,
particularly amongst instruments or voices with
differing or multiple ranges.
Uni = One"

Definition: One melody is performed by


multiple voices or instruments
simultaneously at the SAME pitch.

Found in nearly every kind


of music for various uses...

Gives a theme
importance
Simplistic
Avoids harmonic clashes
Contrasts with harmonic
writing

Listen out for thickened versions of a melody, but make


sure they are at the SAME pitch, therefore similar
voices or instruments.
homo" + "phonic" =
homophonic"
same" + "sound" = same
sounds
Definition: All parts moving together
as chords or melody and chordal
accompaniment.

Found in most western styles


Modern
(pop/rock/jazz/blues etc)
Classical
Remember: Piano/guitar isnt the only way to play a chordal
accompaniment!
A group of instruments can form chords together, e.g. a string
section, brass band or choir.
poly" + "phonic" =
polyphonic"
many" + "sound" = many
sounds
Definition: Music that contains
two or more melodic lines
simultaneously.

Polyphony shows up in lots of


music
Classical
Musical Theatre
Pop

Canons and rounds create a polyphonic texture too as the


lines interweave. The layers are independent, they are not
supporting the main melody.
hetero" + "phonic" =
heterophonic"
different" + "sound" = different
sound
Definition: The simultaneous
performance of two or more slightly
different versions of the same melody.

Almost always in Non-Western


music
Bluegrass Mountain Music
Indian, North American,
Indonesian.

The melody could be varied in rhythm, tempo, or have added


embellishments using ornamentation such as trills,
acciaccaturas, turns.
Definition: The melody copied in
another part.

Often heard in
Baroque counterpoint
by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel
Click the video to play
Listen out for the main theme/motif cropping up in different parts,
it could be passed around the different sections of the orchestra
or used in a fugue passage.

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