Macmillan - Key features

Organum

usually plainsong which is harmonised with consonant intervals (i.e. parallel fourths and fifths)

Fauxbordon

improvised polyphony, adding one part in fourt

Cantus firmus

slow moving melodic line usually taken from an existing hymn.

harmonic gestures

modality, tierce de Picardie, suspensions, parallelism, dissonance and cluster chords

folksong gestures

mordents and scotch snaps

regular phrasing

word painting