Three kinds of texture
When we hear more than one note at a time – for example, a G and a B – we are hearing harmony. Harmony occurs when we play more than one pitch at a time. Texture refers to how many layers of music are sounding at once.
When we play different pitches at a time, we create harmony and a special kind of musical texture. There are three types of musical textures we commonly hear:
1. Monophonic texture is when only one melody is sounding with no accompaniment. Even though several people might play at once, if they all play the same melody at the same time they are creating monophonic texture. A melody is the tune you hear – a succession of pitches and rhythms that sound like they belong together. Music performed this way is called monophony. Examples: J.S. Bach’s Partita in E Major for Solo Violin; Khatchaturian’s “Adagio” from Gayane (first minute).
2. Polyphonic texture is more than one independent melody sounding at the same time. When you sing a round with friends like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”) you create a special kind of polyphony called “imitative polyphony,” because one part was imitating the other. Example: “When Jesus Wept” by American composer William Billings (1746-1820). Some of the most beautiful polyphonic music in history was written in the Renaissance period (1450-1600) by great European masters. Examples: Palestrina’s Pope Marcellus Mass: “Krie” or Victoria’s, O quam gloriosum: “Gloria”
3. Homophonic texture occurs when there is a distinct melody with an accompaniment, like when a tune is played with an accompaniment. Examples: “Scarborough Fair”; “Force Theme” by John Williams.
Pieces of course can have various combinations and emphases of these three musical textures.
