Classifications of Sound and Music Textures

Sound

a. Vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing.

B. Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.

C. The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium.

Music

A result of certain kinds of sound picked up by the human ear.

1. Needs to have structure. Sounds has to be “organized”

2. Has to have an underlying pulse or movement. In other words, has to have rhythm.

Aerophones

Instruments that require the use of air to make sounds. Examples include flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, saxophone, tuba, whistle.

Membranophones

Instruments that require the use of a stretched surface to make sounds. Examples include snare drums, bass drum, timpani, congas, bongos.

Ideophones

Instruments that require a hard surface to make sounds. Examples include xylophones, cymbals, marimba, claves, etc.

Chordophones

Instruments that require the pulling or bowing of strings to make a sound. Examples include pianos, violins, cellos, bass, guitar, zither, sitar, etc.

Electrophones

The newest category for sound classification. Require the use of electricity to make sounds. Examples include speakers, electric guitars, keyboards, iPods, computers, etc.

Monophonic Texture

A musical texture that has only one melodic line. There are no additional harmonies and/or rhythm other than the singular melody you might hear.

Mostly associated with Gregorian Chants of the Medieval and Renaissance Era (400 - 1600 AD)

Also mostly associated with sacred music of the church.

Homophonic Texture

A musical texture that has a melodic line and a rhythmic accompaniment or support.

Most prevalent and most widely used texture for much of what we hear in music today.

This type of texture became the staple of the Classic Period in efforts to revisit an era of “simplicity” and “symmetrical structure.”

Polyphonic Texture

Musical texture that contains two or more simultaneous melodic lines.

General nature is complex as the melody forms very intricate harmonic and rhythmic sounds.

Type of texture is mostly associated with the music of the Renaissance and Baroque Era.