TEXTURE

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There are various ways to make the music sound fuller, thicker, lighter, and heavier.

This
versatile characteristic of music refers to texture. Texture refers to the layers of sound played
simultaneously to make a song sound thick or thin. Texture can be manipulated either by adding
or decreasing the number of sounds or melodies there are in a music piece. The number of
sound layers will affect the lightness or heaviness of the music that you hear. Either way, texture
adds beauty to music and creates several renditions of the same song.

There are different kinds of texture in music that you can use in performing.
These are:

Monophonic
The term monophonic came from the Greek words, "mono" which means one, and "phone"
which means sound. It is the most basic kind of texture in music. It has only one melody or one
layer of sound and can be performed either as a solo or as a group. Take note that the sound of
percussion instruments are added as rhythmic and not melodic. Percussion instruments serve
as monophonic accompaniment. Some examples of monophonic music are:

1. a soloist singing a capella;es i bedies id auto adbuch


2. a choir singing in unison without any accompaniment. Unison is defined as od singing the
same pitch at the same time; A
3. a solo instrument performance; and
4. a pop singer singing a melodic octave with drums as a rhythmic accompaniment.

Homophonic
Homophonic came from the Greek words "homo" which means the same, and "phono" which
means sound. This texture refers to two layers of sound: one melodic and the other harmonic. A
melody being played on the guitar shows a homophonic texture. The melodic layer grabs the
attention of the listener and the harmonic layer serves as a support or background to the
melody,

Some examples of homophonic are: A Vile waited ul Ad

1. a choir singing in unison with a piano as an accompaniment;


2. a singer accompanied by an instrument; and
3. a violin and a piano playing the same piece simultaneously.

Polyphonic
Polyphonic comes from the Greek words "poly" meaning many, and "phono" meaning sound.
This texture has three or more independent layers of sound playing simultaneously. Polyphony
occurs when two or more unique melodies are played at the same time. This texture is the
thickest among all the other textures because of the multiple layers of melodies involved.
Some examples of polyphonic textures are:
1. children singing a round song;
2. a choir singing a mash-up song; to abu vezi sa 91
3. a chorale group singing, "Silent Night" in beautiful harmony; and
4. an orchestral performance.

● Texture refers to the layers of sound in music. It can make the musicaz sound thick or
thin depending on the number of independent sound layers.
● Monophonic is the most basic texture of music. It has only one melody
or layer of sound.
● Homophonic has two layers of sound, namely the melodic layer and the harmonic layer.
● Polyphonic has two or more independent layers of sound or melody. A round song and
a partner song is an example of a polyphony.

Texture is the layering of different sounds produced by instruments or the human voice. Fewer
performers may usually have a thinner texture whereas bigger ensembles can produce a thicker
texture. Solo singing can produce melody, but you need a choir to produce harmony.
Texture can be monophonic (one melody), homophonic (solo with accompaniment), polyphonic
(many melodies), or heterophonic (primitive polyphony).

There are many creative ways to make music. You have learned to communicate with others in
music through the dynamics and tempo. Today, you are going to learn about the beautification
of music through harmony and the combination of various instrumental and vocal sounds.

When different musical instruments are played together, the sound that you hear becomes thick.
When there is only one independent sound, the sound that you hear is thin. The thickness and
thinness of sound is called texture in music. A texture can be one or more sounds played
simultaneously. You can describe a piece of music according to its type of musical texture.

The musical textures are:

a. Monophony
The term monophony comes from the Greek words "mono" which means "one," and phone
which means "sound."
Monophony has only one melodic line. It can be sung or played with a single instrument or two
or more persons singing in unison without any accompaniment.
Here is an illustration of how monophony looks like.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Round and Fat

Pump-kin pump-kin round and fat. Turn in to a Jack-o-lan-tern just like

B. homophony
The term homophony comes from the Greek word "homos" meaning "the same" and "phone"
which means "sound." In this type of texture, the main melody is performed together with an
accompaniment or instrument. It plays a harmonic melody but has the same rhythm.

Here is an example of a Homophonic texture:


You Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

c. Polyphony
Polyphony has the thickest texture in music. The Greek word "poly" refers to the different or
independent melodies being played simultaneously. A polyphonic texture can be heard when
choir sings different melodies at the same time. A band performing together creates a
polyphonic texture too.

Round songs and partner songs are examples of music pieces with polyphonic texture. A round
song is a song that is performed by a group of people where each voice begins at a different
time that allows the performers' voices to sing in harmony. It has one melody sung at a different
time to create harmony.

Look at the example of a 2-part round song below.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat Round Song

Polyphonic textures can also be found in partner songs. These are two or more independent
songs that are sung at the same time and create a beautiful harmony.

Leron Leron Sinta /Pamulinawen


Partner Song

The thickness and thinness of the music is known as texture in music.


A monophony has one melodic line. It is sung in unison without accompaniment. Hande
A homophony has two same sounds. It can be two different instruments played simultaneously
or a singer and an accompaniment.
A polyphony has the thickest texture. Round songs and partner songs are polyphonic in
texture.

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