Texture (music)

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In music, texture is
the way the melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic materials are combined
in a composition (Benward
& Saker 4321, 131), thus determining the overall quality of sound of a
piece. Texture is often described in regards to the density, or thickness, and
range, or width between
lowest and highest pitches, in relative terms as well as more specifically
distinguished according to the number of voices, or parts, and the relationship
between these voices (see types of
texture below) (Benward & Saker 2003, 131). A piece's texture may be
affected by the number and character of parts playing at once, the timbre of the instruments or
voices playing these parts and the harmony, tempo, and rhythms used.

The types categorized by number and relationship of parts are analyzed and
determined through the labeling of primary textural elements: primary melody
(PM), secondary melody (SM), parallel supporting melody (PSM), static support
(SS), harmonic support (HS), rhythmic support (RS), and harmonic and rhythmic
support (HRS) (Benward & Saker 2003, p.136).

Contents

1 Common types

1.1 Monophonic

1.2 Biphonic

1.3 Polyphonic

1.4 Homophonic

1.5 Homorhythmic

1.6 Heterophonic

1.7 Additive

2 Additional
types

3 Sources

4 Further
reading

5 External
links

[edit]
Common types

In musical terms, particularly in the fields of music history and music
analysis, some common terms for different types of texture are:

[edit]
Monophonic

"Pop Goes the Weasel"
melody (Kliewer 1975, p.270-301).

Further information: Monophony

Monophonic texture includes a single melodic line with no accompaniment

(Benward & Saker 2003, 136). PSMs often double or parallel the PM they
support (Benward & Saker 2003, p.137).

[edit]
Biphonic

Two distinct lines, the lower sustaining a drone(constant pitch)while the
other line creates a more elaborate melody above it. Pedal tones or ostinati would be an example of
a SS (Benward & Saker 2003, p.137). biphonic

[edit]
Polyphonic

A bar from J.S. Bach's "Fugue No.17 in A flat", BWV 862,
from Das Wohltemperirte
Clavier (Part I), a famous example of contrapuntal
polyphony

Further information: Polyphony and Counterpoint

Multiple melodic voices which are to a considerable extent independent from
or in imitation with one another. Characteristic texture of the Renaissance music,
also prevalent during the Baroque period (Benward
& Saker 2003,1999,199,158,137, 136,129,110,90,59,35,11,9,0). Polyphonic
textures may contain several PMs (Benward & Saker 2003, p.137).

[edit]
Homophonic

Homophony in Tallis' "If ye love me,"
composed in 1549. The voices move together using the same rhythm, and the
relationship between them creates chords: the excerpt begins and ends with an F
major
triad. To listen, hear music sample below.

Further information: Homophony

The most common texture in Western music: melody and accompaniment. Multiple
voices of which one, the melody, stands out prominently and the others form a
background of harmonic accompaniment. If all the parts have much the same
rhythm, the homophonic texture can also be described as homorhythmic.
Characteristic texture of the Classical period and
continued to predominate in Romantic music while in
the 20th century, "popular music is nearly all homophonic," and, "much of jazz
is also" though, "the simultaneous improvisations of some jazz musicians creates
a true polyphony" (Benward & Saker 2003, 136). Homophonic textures usually
contain only one PM (Benward & Saker 2003, p.137). HS and RS are often
combined, thus labeled HRS (Benward & Saker 2003, p.137).

[edit]
Homorhythmic

Further information: Homorhythm

Multiple voices with similar rhythmic material in all parts. Also known as
"chordal". May be considered a condition of homophony or distinguished from
it.

[edit]
Heterophonic

Further information: Heterophony

Two or more voices simultaneously performing variations of the same
melody.

[edit]
Additive

A texture most commonly found in rock music that starts off mono or
homophonic, and gradually changes and builds up to polyphonic. This also refers
to the volume of a song. See: musical form.

[edit]
Additional types

Although in music instruction certain styles or repertoires of music are
often identified with one of these descriptions this is basically added music.
(for example, Gregorian chant is described as monophonic, Bach Chorales are
described as homophonic and fugues as polyphonic), many composers use more than
one type of texture in the same piece of music.

A simultaneity is more than one complete musical texture occurring at the
same time, rather than in succession.

A more recent type of texture first used by György Ligeti is micropolyphony. Other
textures include polythematic, polyrhythmic, onomatopoeic, compound, and mixed
or composite textures (Corozine 2002, p.34).

Eric Whitacre's piece October is
a piece where homophony, polyphony, and monophony are all utilized.

[edit]
Sources

Benward & Saker (2003). Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I.
Seventh Edition. ISBN
978-0-07-294262-0.

Copland, Aaron. What to Listen for in Music. Published by Signet
Classic, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA)
Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY.

Corozine, Vince (2002).
Arranging Music for the Real World: Classical and Commercial Aspects.
Pacific, MO: Mel Bay. ISBN 0-7866-4961-5.
OCLC 50470629.

Hanning, Barbara
Russano, Concise History of Western Music, based on Donald Jay
Grout & Claudia V. Palisca's A History of Western Music, Fifth
Edition. Published by W. W. Norton
& Company, New York, Copyright 1998. ISBN
0-393-97168-6.

Kliewer, Vernon (1975). "Melody: Linear Aspects of Twentieth-Century
Music", Aspects of Twentieth-Century Music, p.270-301. Wittlich, Gary
(ed.). Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. ISBN
0-13-049346-5.

[edit]
Further reading

Hyer, Brian: "Homophony", Grove Music Online. L.
Macy, ed. (Accessed 24 September 2006).

Frobenius, Wolf: "Polyphony', Grove Music Online. L.
Macy, ed. (Accessed 24 September 2006).

"Monophony", Grove Music Online. L. Macy, ed. (Accessed 24 September
2006).

[edit]
External links

A Guide to Musical Texture with multimedia

v ·
d ·
eMusical
textures

Monophony ·
Homorhythm and Homophony ·
Heterophony ·
Polyphony and Counterpoint ·
Micropolyphony

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_(music)"

Categories: Musical
texture

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