Skyline High School Choirs 10-16-2019
Vocabulary
Texture of music
Texture is one of the basic elements of music. When you describe the texture of a piece of music,
you are describing how much is going on in the music at any given moment. For example, the
texture of the music might be thick or thin, or it may have many or few layers. It might be made
up of rhythm only, or of a melody line with chordal accompaniment, or many interweaving
melodies. There are many informal terms that can describe the texture of a piece of music (thick,
thin, bass-heavy, rhythmically complex, and so on), but the formal terms that are used to
describe texture all describe the relationships of melodies and harmonies. Here are definitions
and examples of the four main types of texture.
Monophonic
Monophonic music has only one melodic line, with no harmony or counterpoint. There may be
rhythmic accompaniment, but only one line that has specific pitches. Monophonic music can also be
called monophony. It is sometimes called monody, although the term “monody” can also refer to a
particular type of solo song (with instrumental accompaniment) that was very popular in the 1600’s.
Examples of Monophony
One person whistling a tune A single bugle sounding “Taps” A group of people all singing a song
together, without harmonies or instruments A fife and drum corps, with all the fifes playing the same
melody
Homophonic
Homophonic music can also be called homophony. More informally, people who are describing
homophonic music may mention chords, accompaniment, harmony or harmonies. Homophony has
one clearly melodic line; it’s the line that naturally draws your attention. All other parts provide
accompaniment or fill in the chords. In most well-written homophony, the parts that are not melody
may still have a lot of melodic interest.
Examples of Homophony
Choral music in which the parts have mostly the same rhythms at the same time is homophonic. Most
traditional Protestant hymns and most “barbershop quartet” music is in this category.
A singer accompanied by a guitar picking or strumming chords. A small jazz combo with a bass, a piano,
and a drum set providing the “rhythm” background for a trumpet improvising a solo.
A single bagpipes or accordion player playing a melody with drones or chords.
Polyphonic
Polyphonic music can also be called polyphony, counterpoint, or contrapuntal music. If more than
one independent melody is occurring at the same time, the music is polyphonic. (See counterpoint.)
Examples of Polyphony Rounds, canons, and fugues are all polyphonic. (Even if there is only one
melody, if different people are singing or playing it at different times, the parts sound independent.)
Much Baroque music is contrapuntal, particularly the works of J.S. Bach.
Examples of Polyphony
Most music for large instrumental groups such as bands or orchestras is contrapuntal at least some of the
time. Music that is mostly homophonic can become temporarily polyphonic if an independent
countermelody is added. Think of a favorite pop or gospel tune that, near the end, has the soloist “ad
libbing” while the back-up singers repeat the refrain.
Heterophonic
A heterophonic texture is rare in Western music. In heterophony, there is only one melody, but
different variations of it are being sung or played at the same time. There are no examples of
heterophonic music that would be familiar to most Western listeners. Some Middle Eastern,
South Asian, and Native American music traditions include heterophony. Listen for traditional
music in which singers and/or instrumentalists perform the same melody at the same time, but
give it different embellishments or ornaments. “Lined out” music like in the Regular Baptist
tradition of Kentucky (think “O Brother, Where Art Thou) is heterophonic.
