Musical Texture

Category: Miscellaneous

Creative Commons License photo credit: cwalker71
What does musical texture mean? Think of a piece of fabric, and the different qualities it might have. It could be soft, course, heavy, light, slippery, shiny, etc. The same thing applies to music. While music might not be shiny or slippery, it has inherent qualities that makes it unique. Different types of texture can be described by the number of parts, harmony, tempo, timbre and rhythm. We will go through several types of musical texture in the following post.

Monophony:

This is the simplest type of texture. In monophonic music, a single voice or part is played without harmonic accompaniment. Even music that is accompanied by a variety of rhythm instruments would be considered monophonic. As long as the attention is on a single line or voice, the music is monophonic. Can you think of any monophonic music that is played today? Not much music these days is monophonic, however some middle Eastern music has a monophonic texture.

Heterophony:

Heterophonic music consists of two or more parts that are elaborating upon the same melody. Often this type of music is improvised. An example of this type of music would be jazz.

Polyphony:

Polyphonic music consists of two or more voices, but it is distinct from heterophony. In heterophonic texture, the part that all voices play is based upon the same melody (though the same notes may not be played). Polyphony is based on counterpoint. Counterpoint is a Latin term that in musical terms can be translated as “note against note”. This means that a counterpoint or polyphonic texture consists of two or more simultaneous melodies that are distinct from each other in notes and rhythm.

Homophony:

This is the type of music that most of us are accustomed to. In homophonic music, one voice takes the melodic lead, while the accompanying voices play the harmony and they take a subordinate role. The listeners interest is directed to a single line of music, and the harmony is there to support it.

These are the four different classical music textures. Remember, a piece of music does not have to be exclusively one of these textures. These textures can be combined and manipulated. Listen to your favourite type of music. See if you can recognize the different textures in the music. It will help you appreciate the art of the music even more!

Posted on November 15th, 2008 by sharlene

1 Comment

Music Appreciation – A discussion and guide

Category: Miscellaneous

What is music appreciation? Music appreciation involves listening to music and understanding its form and context. Even if the type of music does not necessarily appeal to you – music appreciation will allow you to pick out and understand certain elements of the content and style. The following is a short guide to help you begin your journey of music appreciation. If you feel the need for more help, check out your local college to see if they offer introductory music appreciation courses.

Step 1: Find

Find different types of music – music that you wouldn’t normally listen to. Find music from different genres and different eras. Each type of music has a character and structure that makes it unique. For example, music from the Romantic era (1815-1910) tends to be more expressive and passionate than previous eras.

Step 2: Listen Perceptively

Listen to the music – really listen. Notice the melody and the harmony. Notice the rhythm and the structure of the piece. Notice the different instruments – try to identify the instruments that are used and listen to each one separately. Notice the tempo and dynamics and any changes that occur during the piece.

Step 3:Understand

As you become more comfortable with the fundamentals of music, it will become easier to understand and fully appreciate the nuances of music. Another aspect of understanding the music is to understand the context of the music. Understand the history of the music, where it came from, and how it evolved.

Step 4: Listen Again (and again and again….)

Listen to more music, listen to it often, and listen to it repeatedly. Each time you listen to a piece of music pick out something different to focus on.

By following these 4 simple steps you can begin your journey of music appreciation. You may discover a new type of music that you weren’t aware of, or you may begin to like something that didn’t appeal to you before. Either way, music appreciation is an essential step to becoming a well-rounded musician.

Bowmar’s Adventures in Music Listening, Level 1 By Dr. Leon Burton, Dr. Charles Hoffer, Dr. William Hughes. This edition: Student Activity Book. Music Appreciation. Adventures in Music Listening. Level: Grades K-2. Book. 40 pages. Published by Alfred Publishing. (BMR08201S)
See more info…

Posted on October 24th, 2008 by sharlene