MT Texture

​Texture

By Jen DeGaetano

​Today we will:

• Use aural skills to define texture.

• Practice melodic dictation and composing with texture. 

​Vocabulary:

• texture

• homophonic

• monophonic

• polyphonic

Texture in music defines and describes the interaction between layers and lines of music. It is a way to describe how multiple voices or instruments within the music are related.

​Today, you will learn about three types of musical texture:

• monophonic

• homophonic

• polyphonic

Multiple Choice

What is texture in music?

• Texture defines and describes the interaction between layers and lines of music.

• Texture is the quality of sound produced based on a combination of pitch frequency and intensity.

• Texture is a combination of long and short sounds.

​Monophonic Texture

Texture that is monophonic has one main line or one single melody. There are no other musical parts, but this single melody may be performed by more than one instrument or voice in unison

​Monophonic Texture Example:

​MONO means one

​MONOphonic means one melody. This melody can be played or sung by one instrument/person, or several instruments/people

​More Monophonic Examples:

Homophonic Texture:

Texture that is homophonic has one main melody line with other lines of music that act as support or background harmony. Many forms of popular music draw upon homophonic texture, with a melody and chords for harmony.

​Homophonic Texture Example

​Homophonic

Homophonic Texture has one melody supported by harmony

​More Homophonic Examples

Polyphonic Texture:

Texture that is polyphonic has many independent parts and multiple lines of melody occurring at one time. Each line of polyphonic texture is woven together with the others to create a unique mesh of sound.

​Polyphonic Texture Example

​POLY means many

POLYphonic texture has at least 2 (or more) melodies happening at the same time

​More Polyphonic Examples:

Match

Match each texture to its definition

• Monophonic

• Homophonic

• Polyphonic

one main line or one single melody

one main melody line with other lines of

many independent parts and multiple line

• one main line or one single melody

• one main melody line with other lines of

• many independent parts and multiple line

Match

Match the texture to what parts of music it contains.

• Monophonic

• Homophonic

• Polyphonic

Melody

Melody + Harmony

Melody + Melody

• Melody

• Melody + Harmony

• Melody + Melody

​Texture Review!

One last review!

​There are texture identification examples in Edio!

​Summary:

​In today's lesson, you:

• defined monophonic, homophonic, and polyphonic texture

• used aural skills to define texture

​Summary:

​Next class we will:

• explore the musical element of tempo