Ch. 5 Texture - Music History & Culture

texture

The interweaving of melodic (horizontal) and harmonic (vertical) elements in the musical fabric.

monophonic

Single‐line texture, or melody without accompaniment.

heterophonic

Texture in which two or more voices (or parts) elaborate the same melody simultaneously, often the result of improvisation.

Polyphony

Texture resulting from combining two or more melodic lines, as distinct from monophonic.

counterpoint

The art of combining in a single texture two or more simultaneous melodic lines.

homophonic

Texture with a principal melody and accompanying harmony, as distinct from polyphony.

homorhythmic

Texture in which all voices, or lines, move together in the same rhythm.

imitation

Melodic idea presented in one voice or part and then restated in another, each part continuing as others enter.

canon

A list of composers and/or works assigned value and greatness by consensus. Also, a type of polyphonic composition in which one musical line strictly imitates another at a fixed distance throughout.

round

Perpetual canon at the unison in which each voice enters in succession with the same melody (for example, Row, Row, Row Your Boat).