GCSE MUSIC TEXTURE

Monophonic

a single melodic line

Homophonic

A melody + accompaniment texture

Polyphonic

layers interweaving

2, 3 or 4 part texture

Music written for 2-, 3-, or 4-part voices or instruments

Chordal texture

a musical texture in which the musical material is concentrated into chords with relatively little melodic activity

Imitation

a composing device where a melody is played/sung and then repeated in a different voice.

Layered

When more parts are added ‘layered’ on top of one another, to add more fullness and build a thicker texture.

Melody and accompaniment

When the melody or theme is the main feature, and the other parts support, i.e. ‘accompany’ the melody.

Descant

A decorative melodic line, higher in pitch than the main melody in a piece of vocal music,

Canon

A compositional device where a melody in one part is repeated exactly after the other, usually with some overlapping.

Round

A short vocal canon for unaccompanied singing

Stab Chords

‘Staccato’ (short) chord(s) that add dramatic impact in a piece of music. Usually lasts for one beat and played by horns/brass instruments.

Alberti Bass

1-5-3-5

Walking bass

A style of bass movement that walks through the notes of a chord/scale – used commonly in Jazz/Blues music.