types of musical textures
In music, texture is the way the melodic, rhythmic and harmonic materials are combined in a composition (Benward & Saker 2003, 131)
Texture is often described in regard 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). For example, a thick texture contains several different "layers" of instruments.
IN ORDER to grasp MUSICAL TEXTURE as a concept we first need to make sure that we understand what is meant by Melody and Accompaniment and how they combine to create various textures...
Texture is often described in regard 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). For example, a thick texture contains several different "layers" of instruments.
IN ORDER to grasp MUSICAL TEXTURE as a concept we first need to make sure that we understand what is meant by Melody and Accompaniment and how they combine to create various textures...
MelodyA melody (also tune, voice or line) is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. Melodies often consist of one or more musical phrases or motifs, and are usually repeated throughout a composition in various forms. |
AccompanimentThe accompaniment part usually provides the harmonic background and the rhythmic structure for the piece of music or song. The harmonic background is usually provided by one or more instruments that play a chord progression |
melody and accompaniment
This is considered to be a kind TEXURE in it's own right. A lot of Piano music will naturally consist of melody (usually in the right hand or higher part) and accompaniment (usually in the left hand or lower part).
Obviously there is cross-over here as the different kinds of accompaniment will definitely fall into one or more of the TEXTURE TYPES defined below (ESPECIALLY HOMOPHONIC TEXTURE)
Obviously there is cross-over here as the different kinds of accompaniment will definitely fall into one or more of the TEXTURE TYPES defined below (ESPECIALLY HOMOPHONIC TEXTURE)
MONOPHONICMonophonic texture includes a single melodic line with no accompaniment. (Benward & Saker 2003, 136).
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 (Benward & Saker 2003, 136) MORE HOMOPHONIC TEXTURE
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polyphonicMultiple melodic voices (melodies or lines) which are to independent from one another (Benward & Saker)
Two or more voices simultaneously performing variations of the same melody. This might result from people ornamenting the melody in different ways and playing it slightly out of time with each other.. Another Example - Heterophony is a bit like what might happen if a bunch of people got togther to sing a melody they all knew (roughly) without having rehearsed much...
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