Also, as opposed to the species terminology of counterpoint, polyphony was generally either "pitch-against-pitch" / "point-against-point" or "sustained-pitch" in one part with melismas of varying lengths in another. Baroque forms such as fugue, which might be called polyphonic, are usually described instead as contrapuntal. Within the context of the Western musical tradition, the term polyphony is usually used to refer to music of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. Polyphony is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice, monophony, or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords, homophony. Bach's " Fugue No.17 in A flat", BWV 862, from Das Wohltemperierte Clavier (Part I), a famous example of contrapuntal polyphony. With the twentieth century spirit of “anything goes,” we have seen every type of texture.A bar from J.S. The romantic era was also mainly homophonic, but as the music became more complex and as orchestras grew in size, the texture became much thicker and heavier. Texture in the classical era was predominantly homophonic with an emphasis on melodies in the higher ranges. By the late baroque though, counterpoint was gaining in importance, especially in the music of Bach. The most important part was the melody and chords in a homophonic texture accompanied it. The baroque era brought a significant change to texture. In the renaissance, the Mass, motet, and madrigal were almost entirely polyphonic, with as many as five separate vocal lines being sung at once. In the late middle ages composers started writing polyphonic music to contrast the monophony of Gregorian chant.
POLYPHONIC TEXTURE SONGS FREE
On the opposite end of the counterpoint spectrum, when there is no imitation involved in the polyphony, it is called free counterpoint. In performing this piece, the first group sings “Row, row, row, your boat, gently down the stream,” at which point the second group enters and sings the exact same words with the exact same pitches. Think back to when you sang Row, Row, Row Your Boat, which is a perfect example of a round. When the parts are copied exactly it is called a canon.
Imitative counterpoint, like the name suggests, features one line that is imitated by another. There are two types of polyphony - imitative and free. Another name for polyphonic texture is counterpoint which literally means “point against point,” or in more musical terms “note against note.” There are often four or more independent parts being played at once in a polyphonic piece. Polyphonic music consists of two or more independent musical lines that are played at the same time. Folk music, church hymns, and Christmas songs are almost always homophonic. Homophonic texture is most common in popular music of all kinds. All of the parts either move together or the chords have a simple rhythm that does not detract from the melody. Music with a homophonic texture has a melody that is accompanied by chords. When two or more people are performing the same notes at the same time, they are playing in unison. Several people singing the exact same melody performed it. Gregorian chant and almost all other music of the Middle Ages was monophonic. When you sing, hum, or whistle a tune by yourself, you are performing a monophonic song. Nothing else is happening or interfering with this melody. Monophonic music, as the name mono indicates, consists of one single musical line. There are three types of texture - monophonic, homophonic, and polyphonic.
These words all refer to the texture of the composition. In discussing the nature of a piece of music we can say that it is thick, thin, heavy, or light. Texture is an overall description of what is going on with the musical parts. “Exactly what is going on in this piece of music? Is there just one melody? Are there several melodic lines being played at the same time? Are chords being played? Is it busy with constant activity? Is it simple and clear in its sound?”Īll of these questions can be answered by understanding texture.
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