How musical lines interact

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 (Pachelbels 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
• 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 its 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)

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Illustrate (Variations on America)

• Listen and Illustrate the Theme and Variation
  sections in the Variations on America

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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

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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 (450-1450)
• Renaissance (1450-1600)
• Baroque (1600-1750)
• Classical (1750-1820)
• Romantic (1820-1900)
• Twentieth Century to 1945
• 1945 to the Present