How musical lines interact

1
Musical Texture, Form, and Style

• How musical lines interact

2
What is Musical Texture?

• Musical Texture refers to a number of different
  characteristics of music
• Texture is the number of parts playing
• It refers to whether each line is a melody or
  harmony part
• Texture refers to how each part relates to each
  other
• Can be described as thick, thin, dense, heavy,
  light
• Variations in texture can create contrast and
  drama
• We will look at three basic textures
• Monophonic
• Polyphonic
• Homophonic

3
Monophonic Texture- One Sound

• Monophonic means that there is one melodic line
  with no harmony or accompaniment
• If multiple voices or instruments are playing in
  unison, it is still Monophonic
• Examples of monophonic music
• Singing solo a capella
• Gregorian chant
• Unaccompanied instrumental sonatas

4
Polyphonic Music- Many Sounds

• Polyphonic means that there are two or more
  melodic lines of equal importance
• Technique of writing several melodic lines that
  interact is called counterpoint
• Often uses imitation, which is when one voice or
  instrument presents a melodic idea, then another
  voice repeats it
• Not always exact imitation
• Examples of polyphonic music
• Rounds, fugues, and canons
• Partner songs

5
Homophonic Music- Same Sounds

• Homophonic means there is one main melody with a
  less important accompaniment
• Accompaniment could be as simple as chords, or it
  could be more complex
• If a line in the accompaniment starts to stand
  out and become more important, then the texture
  changes to polyphonic
• Examples of homophonic music
• Melody and accompaniment
• Traditional hymn arrangments

6
Farandole by Georges Bizet

• Has two themes a march theme and a dance theme
• Starts with the march theme in a homophonic
  texture, then then violins and violas play a
  polyphonic section
• The high woodwinds then play the dance theme in a
  homophonic texture
• After the full orchestra plays the dance theme,
  the strings play a monophonic version of the
  march theme
• Listen for other changes in texture

7
Hallelujah by Georg Frideric Handel

• Switches rapidly between all three textures
• Word Hallelujah is usually homophonic, with
  some imitative polyphony
• For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth is usually
  monophonic
• And he shall reign is always polyphonic
• Changes in texture create contrast for each
  section of the piece

8
MUSICAL FORM

• Three techniques that create Form
• Repetition
• Allows the listener to become familiar with a
  theme or melody
• Often used with another technique
• Contrast
• Can be a change of mood, dynamics, tempo, timbre
• Variation
• Alteration of a musical idea so its different
  but still recognizable
• Entire pieces can be composed using this technique

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Two Major types of Form

• Ternary Form
• Three sections A B A
• Can be looked at as a statement of a theme, a
  contrasting section, and a return to the original
• Each section can also be subdivided, as well
• Example Dance of the Reed Pipes from The
  Nutcracker Suite- By Peter Tchaikovsky
• A section introduces the melody
• B section uses the trumpets and strings to vary
  the melody
• Return to the A section with the flutes

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Two Major types of Form

• Binary Form
• Two sections A B
• Can be looked at as a statement of a theme and
  then a counterstatement with a different theme.
• Any section can be repeated
• Example Contradance No. 7 in E-Flat Major By
  Ludwig Von Beethoven
• A section uses the 1st violins to introduce the
  melody, then it is repeated
• B section uses a rapid ascending scale, and gives
  a sense of finality to the piece

11
Musical Style

• Style- a characteristic way of using melody,
  rhythm, harmony, dynamics, timbre, texture, and
  form.
• Particular combinations create a distinctive
  sound
• Composers from the same area, time, or country
  often use similar styles
• Musical styles change over time, but it is often
  gradual

12
Eras of Western Art Music

• Middle Ages (450-1450)
• Renaissance (1450-1600)
• Baroque (1600-1750)
• Classical (1750-1820)
• Romantic (1820-1900)
• Twentieth Century to 1945
• 1945 to the Present