Homophony and Polyphony The terms homophony and polyphony are both musical voices. The former can be defined as one sound or line of melody at a time that is played by multiple instruments at the same time, while the latter is any music with two or more independent melodic parts sounded together. Homophony music is one melodic line at a time, the other voices or parts serving as accompaniment. Polyphony music, on the other hand, is combined with several lines of a similar, rhythmically identical design. The terms homophony and polyphonic are types of a musical texture as well. The most common definition of texture, in a general sense, is the visual or tactile surface characteristics and appearance of something. The following qualifiers "rough", "smooth", "coarse", "silken", "thin" and "thick" are mostly accompany the term to describe certain characteristics of textiles. Its definition as a musical term is the overall quality of a sound of a piece, most often indicated by the number of voices in the music as well as the interaction of melodies and harmonies within a song. Homophonic texture can be found in the most popular music styles, such as folk, rock, country, jazz, etc. and also can be accompanied with a vocal music. Polyphonic, in contrast, described as thicker or …show more content…
This is directly contradicted to polyphony, in which each voice may move individually. Homophony is not to be confused with monophony, in which all the voices and accompanying instruments are performing exactly the same notes, in homophony there is a distinct melody with accompanying harmony, but all move in the same rhythmic pattern. In historical context, homophony appeared as the nuove musiche (new music) style in the Baroque period (1600-1750), and it characterized by a melodic line supported by a vertically conceived harmonic
The roots of this form can be traced to the simple binary form of the baroque era. With binary, the two sections are thematically similar with a sameness of texture and theme throughout the movement. The term sonata originally referred to instrumental music, not a particular form of composition. The Baroque sonata can be traced back to an instrumental song of the late Renaissance called canzon da sonar. This leads eventually to the trio sonata, for four instruments despite its name, which consisted of two melody instruments, a chord playing instrument, and a basso continuo. Along with the trio sonata, there was the solo sonata that was written primarily for a melody instrument and a basso continuo. In the late 1600s, the word sonata was associated with sonate da chiesa, for church, and sonate da camera, for chamber.
Lastly is the Organ Fugue which is basically described as two or more voices that build upon a theme introduced in the beginning of the composition. Handel’s piece, “Water Music”, comprises of many orchestral musical forms that was made for small or large orchestras. It also involves many suites including those of dance. The basso continuo is a form of music that goes along with others. It the bottom line of what the original producer meant and is told through numerals and symbols which indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones. The Four Seasons First Movement: “Spring” by Vivaldi consists of four concerti grossi that was made for string orchestra and a solo
The Baroque style of music was in prominence from the beginning of the 17th century until the mid-18th century. Some primary features of this style, particularly in the later years, include an emphasis on polyphonic textures and a continuity throughout the entire piece. Most compositions were created for specific events and sometimes written for particular instruments. (Kamien, 2015). The Trumpet Concerto for 2 Trumpets, composed by Antonio Vivaldi, is one example of these late Baroque style compositions and one we can use to analyze: the common elements, the overall effect, and the composer’s possible perspective.
The 10th century organum features a duplicated fourth, fifth, or octave below the plainchant melody in the principal voice. The duplicated voice moves in oblique and/or contrary motion, with a multitude of intervals interspersed. In addition to oblique and contrary motion, there is parallel motion, and similar motion. All of these types of motion can be featured in an organum, however in the 10th century, oblique and contrary were the most typical. An example of a 10th century organum can be found in Musica enchiriadis. Musica enchiriadis is an anonymous treatise that was the first of its kind to describe polyphony. It set up a system of guidelines for polyphony, and it included many examples of the organum. While the examples in Musica enchiriadis are mere teachings and instructions on how to sing an organum, some of the earliest examples of organums ever recorded exist within the treatise.
The text of The Erlking (1815), by Schubert, is a Germanic legend and is about the king of the elves. He is an evil and magical figure, who with his touch (whether you touch him or he touches you) can kill. In the text a father and his son are riding home at night and the son keeps screaming that he sees the Erlking and he was going to hurt him. The father doesn't know what to do b/c he's not sure if the son is really seeing the Erlking or if he is
Most people are familiar with the word "music", however they barely consider the definition of it. After carefully think, everyone has their own opinions on this term and it is hard to have an uniform criterion of music sounds. According to the text book, Michael B. Bakan states five propositions to define the music. The first one is about the tone and the second one talks about the music is organized in some way. The next two are claims that music is human organized and a product of human intention and perception. The last proposition argues music cannot separate from Western culture. Among these propositions, I think the music is a product of human intention and perception is most interesting and worth to discuss. So I assert that the most
Music has been around since the dawn of time, ever since man first inhabited this planet we have learned to communicate in ways other then conventional speaking. Different Cultures all have there own specific way of communicating through music. Music is basically broken into two specific groups Eastern Music and Western Music. Eastern music is mainly derived from the orient and India. While, Western music first emerged from Europe. Western music has developed in many ways since the middle ages through its form, sound, and message.
The Baroque era contains three phases: early, middle, and late. During the early phase of Baroque, harmony became the central idea to music. The Florentine Camarata reinvigorated this style and were the ones who opposed their contemporary music. This group started in Italy and influenced composers in France. Baroque music would help create the popular form of music known as opera. Since it focuses on the soloist rather than a group of people singing simultaneously. It also focuses on the harmonic aspect of music (Palisca, 25).
The definition of the word genre is “a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style or subject matter” (Merriam Webster). These categories are what is used to classify music into different genres. The 5 most popular genres of music include heavy metal, rock n' roll, alternative, hard rock, and classical.
At one point in the study of the Romantic period of music, we come upon
In physics, music is essentially a form of energy and is transferred by a wave. There are two basic kinds of waves. The first is a transverse wave where the medium vibrates at a right angle up and down causing the wave to move to the right. A compressional wave (or longitudinal wave) moves to the right and left because the medium vibrates in the same direction. Sound waves take the form of compressional waves and are caused by vibrations. Sound waves are distinguished by their speed, pitch, loudness and quality (timbre) (Lapp, 2003).
To fully understand any musical style, one must be able to analyze the various elements of music as they exist in that particular style. In this first musical close-up, we shall briefly describe these elements of music. In subsequent musical close-ups, we shall examine one or another of these elements in greater detail as it pertains to a given style or topic.
music is homophonic then there is only one melody line, but it may be played by
This era is recognized by the creation of tonality, as well as the establishment of the opera, cantata, and concerto. Different from the classical era, this era featured a unity of mood, a continuous rhythm and melody, and a predominantly polyphonic texture, meaning that there were two melody lines, each fighting for the listener 's attention. The composers from the Baroque period were well-known for their extravagant, frivolous and bizarre usage of their instruments and their performances. The most notable influence from this era is in modern music especially rock music, because in rock music emotions are intense and the mood are usually unified just like the music from the Baroque period. Some artists and rock bands have adopted this bizarre style, for example Prince and Lady Gaga. Many rock bands were inspired by composers of this era such as Bach because of the intensity of his
As a musician, I always related to sounds in terms of musical application. The only sounds I paid attention to were those involved in creating and performing music. Musical sounds were the most important to me. Well . . . actually, as a traveling musician, any troubling sounds my car made were almost as important. The only other sound I appreciated was silence - something I valued after six nights of rhythmic and melodic saturation and the babble of three hundred or so party drunks.