![]() What Type Of Music Is Monophonic?Īn example of monophonic music would be a Gregorian chant because, in most cases, there is only one voice singing a melody without any harmonies. The word monophonic is made up of two words, mono and phonic which translates to “one” and “voice.” As soon as another voice or instrument starts playing something other than the melodic line, the music ceases to be monophonic. This was the most common type of music prior to the 13th century. Generally, monophonic music is made up of a single melody with no harmony or counter-melody. Polyphonic is a word that is made up of two words, poly and phonic, which translates to many voices…and refers to the structure of a piece of music rather than a time frame or style. It’s important to remember that the term “classical” refers to…at least in regards to music history/theory…a period in history from about 1730 to 1820. Likewise, classical…no matter if you mean “classical” in terms of era or just general orchestral music…music can be monophonic or homophonic. While polyphonic music is often found in classical music, it can be found in other genres as well. Is Polyphonic Classical Music?Ĭlassical music is not necessarily polyphonic. One melody could be played by an instrument while the other is sung by a voice.The two melodies could be in different ranges so they are played by different instruments or voices.The two melodies could be in the same range so they are played together by the same instrument or voice. ![]() This can be done in a few different ways: Is A Counter Melody An Example Of Polyphony?Ī counter melody is a second melody that is played at the same time as the main melody, which is an example of polyphonic music. What Type Of Music Is Polyphonic?Īn example of polyphonic music would be something like a fugue, where there are several different voices each playing their own melody, but they all work together to create a cohesive piece of music. The Renaissance period was also a big time for polyphony with composers like Josquin des Prez and Palestrina. Polyphonic music became more popular in the 14th century with composers like Guillaume de Machaut and Ars Nova. Some of the earliest examples of polyphonic music date back to the 11th and 12th centuries with organum, a type of Gregorian chant that added an extra voice to the original melody. Most of the music you hear today…jazz, pop, classical, film music, etc., is considered polyphonic music, but it has been popular for over 500 years. ![]() These parts are usually performed simultaneously by different instruments or voices. In general, polyphonic music is made up of two or more independent melodies that are combined to make a single piece of music. I’ll jump into some details about each, give examples of types of music, and discuss ways they are different and similar. In this blog post, I wanted to focus on the “phonic” terms you’re going to hear in beginning music theory courses, polyphonic, homophonic, and monophonic. One of my goals is to break down these terms to help clear some of the confusion that comes with things like polyphonic, monophonic, homophonic, and counterpoint (which I wrote about in another article!)Įach type of music has its own unique characteristics and origins. There are so many phrases and different terminology in music theory that it can become quite cumbersome to navigate if you’re new to music composition and theory. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |