Texture 1
From the Syllabus:
Texture results from the way voices and/or instruments are combined in music.
Students should be able to discuss the following aspects of texture as relevant to the
music studied:
• the layers of sound and their function
• the roles of instruments and/or voices.
Texture results from the way voices and/or instruments are combined in music.
Students should be able to discuss the following aspects of texture as relevant to the
music studied:
• the layers of sound and their function
• the roles of instruments and/or voices.
Layer
Doubling Unison Motion - Contrary - Similar - Parallel - Oblique Monophonic Homophonic Polyphonic Heterophonic Roles - Melody - Accompaniment - Pulse reinforcing - Counter Melody |
Accompaniment Styles
- Broken Chord/Arpeggio - Chordal - Continuo (Basso Continuo) - Full chords - Omm pah pah - Rhythmic Chordal Accompaniment - Sustained chords Acapella Canon Density Fugue Staggered Entries Tutti |
Layer
The most common layers of musical texture are melody, accompaniment and pulse reinforcement. A layer is an instrumental line. More than one instrument may be part of a layer. The interaction of layers makes up music (that is my best sweeping generalisation).
The most common layers of musical texture are melody, accompaniment and pulse reinforcement. A layer is an instrumental line. More than one instrument may be part of a layer. The interaction of layers makes up music (that is my best sweeping generalisation).
Doubling
Doubling can be heard when an instrument (or group of instruments) or voice perform the same line/melody/musical material of another instrument sometimes in a different octave/register. In this example you will hear the Oboe doubling the Piano melody (Mozart Coda from Larghetto K491)
Doubling can be heard when an instrument (or group of instruments) or voice perform the same line/melody/musical material of another instrument sometimes in a different octave/register. In this example you will hear the Oboe doubling the Piano melody (Mozart Coda from Larghetto K491)
Here
is an example where the strings double the vocal melody line. Listen carefully
for the strings they are an octave lower than the melody line. At the end of
the excerpt the brass double the melody also.
Unison
Unison is created when instruments/voices perform the same melody at the same pitch (can be in different octaves).
Unison is created when instruments/voices perform the same melody at the same pitch (can be in different octaves).
Unison is also created when instruments play the same rhythm and pitch (may be in different octaves) after a time of independent movement or performing different roles. I.e when all the instruments play in unison the melodic and accompaniment instruments play the melody. An excerpt from Mozart’s ‘A Little Night Music’
Motion – Contrary
Layers/Parts whos pitch moves in the opposite direction.
If one part ascends the other must descend. If one leaps up the other must leap down.
Layers/Parts whos pitch moves in the opposite direction.
If one part ascends the other must descend. If one leaps up the other must leap down.
Here are two more brief examples.
Motion – Similar
Similar motion is created when more than one part plays the same melody (See ‘Unison’ and ‘Doubling’) or two parts have a melody that has an identical shape.
Here you can see the right and left hands of Piano 1 and Piano 2 are playing in similar motion. In the last bar piano 1’s right and left hands continue in similar motion
Similar motion is created when more than one part plays the same melody (See ‘Unison’ and ‘Doubling’) or two parts have a melody that has an identical shape.
Here you can see the right and left hands of Piano 1 and Piano 2 are playing in similar motion. In the last bar piano 1’s right and left hands continue in similar motion
Motion – Parallel
Parallel motion/harmony is created when two parts that have the same shape move in the same direction. The combination of the two parts creates harmony rather than union.
Parallel motion/harmony is created when two parts that have the same shape move in the same direction. The combination of the two parts creates harmony rather than union.
Here are some examples where different instruments perform parallel harmonies. Make sure you state whether the parallel harmony is higher or lower.
Motion – Oblique
Oblique motion is created when one part stays on the same note (repeating or drone) wile the other part moves.
Oblique motion is created when one part stays on the same note (repeating or drone) wile the other part moves.
Here are some various excerpts.
Monophonic
Monophonic (meaning one layer/sound) describes music that has a single melodic layer. This layer may be performed by one or more instruments/performers. E.g. people singing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison à this would be Monophonic as long as the same rhythms and pitches are being performed. If some singers were singing the melody with slight variation/ornamentation the texture would be Heterophonic. See ‘Heterophonic’.
Monophonic (meaning one layer/sound) describes music that has a single melodic layer. This layer may be performed by one or more instruments/performers. E.g. people singing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison à this would be Monophonic as long as the same rhythms and pitches are being performed. If some singers were singing the melody with slight variation/ornamentation the texture would be Heterophonic. See ‘Heterophonic’.
Homophonic
A homophonic texture contains a main melodic line with any form of chordal accompaniment. The chordal accompaniment can be anything from orchestral/guitar/piano/vocal accompaniment. The chordal accompaniment may follow the rhythm of the melody or have an dependant rhythm. Sustained notes in an instrument (other than the melody) may be harmonic support. Don’t be too quick to call a piece polyphonic.
A homophonic texture contains a main melodic line with any form of chordal accompaniment. The chordal accompaniment can be anything from orchestral/guitar/piano/vocal accompaniment. The chordal accompaniment may follow the rhythm of the melody or have an dependant rhythm. Sustained notes in an instrument (other than the melody) may be harmonic support. Don’t be too quick to call a piece polyphonic.
Chordal accompaniment with an independent rhythm
Various examples
of homophonic texture
1) Independent rhythmic chordal accompaniment 2) Chordal accompaniment
3) Vocal/Choral homophonic texture 4) Orchestral homophonic texture.
1) Independent rhythmic chordal accompaniment 2) Chordal accompaniment
3) Vocal/Choral homophonic texture 4) Orchestral homophonic texture.
Polyphonic
Polyphonic texture is created when two or more independent melodies play at the same time. They may be accompanied or unaccompanied.
Polyphonic texture is created when two or more independent melodies play at the same time. They may be accompanied or unaccompanied.
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