polyphony, in music, the simultaneous combination of two or more tones or melodic lines (the term derives from the Greek word for “many sounds”). Thus, even a single interval made up of two simultaneous tones or a chord of three simultaneous tones is rudimentarily polyphonic.
What type of music is polyphonic?
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.
What is an example of polyphony?
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.)
What does polyphonic mean simple?
adjective. consisting of many voices or sounds. Music. having two or more voices or parts, each with an independent melody, but all harmonizing; contrapuntal (opposed to homophonic). pertaining to music of this kind.
What is the meaning of homophonic in music?
homophony, musical texture based primarily on chords, in contrast to polyphony, which results from combinations of relatively independent melodies.
How do you make polyphonic music?
Music that is monophonic or homophonic can become polyphonic if a second melody is added to it, like a singer at the end of a song improvising while the back-up singers sing the main melody. There are many different styles of music that have a polyphonic texture.
What is monophonic and polyphonic?
Monophony means music with a single “part” and a “part” typically means a single vocal melody, but it could mean a single melody on an instrument of one kind or another. Polyphony means music with more than one part, and so this indicates simultaneous notes.
What period is polyphonic music?
The Polyphonic era is a term used since the mid-19th century to designate an historical period in which harmony in music is subordinate to polyphony. It generally refers to the period from the 13th to the 16th century.
Why is polyphony important in music?
Many of today’s keyboards and sound modules have 64-note or even 128-note polyphony, and while few keyboardists are going to play that many notes at once, many people want the capability to play complicated, multi-part layers that demand much more polyphony than a single instrument sound would ever need.
What is polyphony music quizlet?
polyphony. A musical texture consisting of two or more independent melodic lines.
What is the difference between polyphonic and homophonic?
Polyphony is a musical texture that consists of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, while homophony is a musical texture with several parts in which one melody is predominant and others are either simple chords or elaborate accompaniment patterns.
Are pop songs polyphonic?
An example of polyphonic texture might be a popular pop song which incorporates the lead singer, backup singers, and instruments in the background. Monophonic music can be thought of as different singers singing in harmony with each other during a chorus, but singing at the same or different pitches.
What is homophonic in simple words?
Homophonic definition
The definition of homophonic is having one sound or line of melody at a time that is played by multiple instruments at the same time, or two words that are pronounced the same but differ in their meanings.
What are examples of homophonic songs?
10 Examples Of Songs With Homophonic Texture
- Claudio Monteverdi – Ave Maris Stella.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Piano Sonata No. …
- Franz Schubert – Heavenly Bliss.
- Ludwig van Beethoven – Seventh Symphony, Movement II (Allegretto)
- Scott Joplin – Maple Leaf Rag.
- Miles Davis – Billy Boy.
- Count Basie – Lil’ Darlin.
What is monophonic give example?
Also called monophony, this texture means there can be no separate instruments or voices present – as soon as someone else plays something different at the same time the texture is no longer monophonic. For example, if a group of friends sat around a campfire singing a song altogether, that would be monophony.
What is homophonic harmony?
Homophonic music refers to music that has one sound or line of melody being played by multiple instruments at the same time. One instrument plays one note, and a second instrument plays a note in harmony. The key element of homophonic music is that it has one part or melody as the dominant element.
What does word painting mean in music?
Word painting is when the melody of a song actually reflects the meaning of the words. The best way to learn about it is to listen.
How many voices does homophonic music have?
The choral arrangement of four voices (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) has since become common in Western classical music. Homophony began by appearing in sacred music, replacing polyphony and monophony as the dominant form, but spread to secular music, for which it is one of the standard forms today.
