HOW MUSICAL LINES INTERACT

Musical Texture, Form, and Style

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, lightVariations in texture can create contrast and

dramaWe will look at three basic textures

Monophonic Polyphonic Homophonic

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 (Whitney Houston, “I Will

Always Love You” Gregorian chant Unaccompanied instrumental sonatas (Baroque)

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, (Little Fugue

in G minor ) and canons (Pachelbel’s Cannon in D)

Partner songs

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

(Alan Jackson – “The Old Rugged Cross”)

Traditional hymn arrangements (Traditional – “The Old Rugged Cross”)

Homophonic writing using chords

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 (fugue like)

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

“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

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 in an element of music, i.e. melody, rhythm,

harmony, dynamics, tempo, timbre; mood can be changed as well

Variation Alteration of a musical idea so it’s different but still recognizable Entire pieces can be composed using this technique

Example – Variation on America by Charles Ives Listen and Illustrate the “Theme and Variation” sections in the

“Variations on America” (next page)

Illustrate (“Variations on America”)

Listen and Illustrate the “Theme and Variation” sections in the “Variations on America”

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: “Gavotte from French Suite NO. 5 in G Major” By Johanne Sebastian Bach

See next page for Listening Outline

Listening Outline (to be read while music is heard)

Listen and Illustrate the two sections in “Gavotte” by Bach

Illustrate “Dance of the Reeds” (from the Nutcracker)

Show the form through your illustration incorporating repetition and contrast

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

Listen and Illustrate the three sections in the “Dance of the Reed Pipes” (on next page)

Two Part Songs – Verse/Chorus

Two part songs are Binary. Popular music, Country music, Contemporary Christian, and church hymns are a few examples that follow the pattern of two parts utilizing a Verse/Chorus (Refrain) pattern.

Selena Gomez “Bang a DrumTim McGraw “Live Like You Were Dying”Michael W. Smith – “Friends”

Rondo

Rondo is a 5 or 7 part song that alternates between the beginning ‘A’ section with other contrasting sections ‘B’ and/or ‘C’. The ‘A’ section is the unifying repetition that holds the piece together.

5 part Rondo pattern – ABACA7 Part Rondo pattern – ABACABAWhich pattern does the following selection

follow? Mozart – “Turkish March”

Theme and Variations

Repetition of the same melodic theme through out a musical composition.

Composition begins with a statement of the main ideaEach new part will use one or more music element to

“vary” or change this melodic idea without losing the theme

Listen to “American Salute” by Morton Gould based on a Civil War tune “When Johnny Comes

Marching Home” Determine how many variations you year and

complete one of the following for each variation: Draw pictures to show the change in the variations as you hear

them Label and describe each new variation as you hear it

Theme and Variations

Use this page to illustrate or label and describe the variations heard in “American Salute” by Morton gould

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

Eras of Western Art Music

Middle Ages (450-1450)Renaissance (1450-1600)Baroque (1600-1750)Classical (1750-1820)Romantic (1820-1900)Twentieth Century to 19451945 to the Present