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 (Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”
Gregorian chant
Unaccompanied instrumental sonatas (Baroque)

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, (Little Fugue in G minor ) and canons (Pachelbel’s Cannon in D)
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 (Alan Jackson – “The Old Rugged Cross”)
Traditional hymn arrangements (Traditional – “The Old Rugged Cross”)
Homophonic writing using chords

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 (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

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 Contrast
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)

9. Illustrate (“Variations on America”)
Listen and Illustrate the “Theme and Variation” sections in the “Variations on America”

10. 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

11. Listening Outline (to be read while music is heard)
Listen and Illustrate the two sections in “Gavotte” by Bach

12. Illustrate “Dance of the Reeds” (from the Nutcracker)
Show the form through your illustration incorporating repetition and contrast

13. 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)

14. 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 Drum
Tim McGraw “Live Like You Were Dying”
Michael W. Smith – “Friends”

15. 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 – ABACA
7 Part Rondo pattern – ABACABA
Which pattern does the following selection follow?
Mozart – “Turkish March”

16. Theme and Variations
Repetition of the same melodic theme through out a musical composition.
Composition begins with a statement of the main idea
Each 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

17. Theme and Variations
Use this page to illustrate or label and describe the variations heard in “American Salute” by Morton Gould

18. 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

19. Eras of Western Art Music
Middle Ages ( )
Renaissance ( )
Baroque ( )
Classical ( )
Romantic ( )
Twentieth Century to 1945
1945 to the Present