Texture

Question 1

Solo

Answer 1

A single instrument.

Question 2

Monophony

Answer 2

One melody, no harmony.

Question 3

Unison

Answer 3

All voices or instruments playing the same notes.

Question 4

Octaves

Answer 4

The same note just an octave higher. For example C^4 and C^5

Question 5

Homophony

Answer 5

The melody and chords move more or less at the same time.

Question 6

Polyphonic/ Contrapuntal

Answer 6

Easier to recognise. More than one melody playing at the same time. It sounds more complex.

Question 7

Heterophonic

Answer 7

One tune played by all instruments but with variation.

Question 8

Melody and accompaniment

Answer 8

Melody and accompaniment

Question 9

Parallel 3rds

Answer 9

A harmony moving above/below the indicated melody by the interval of a third. Parallel 4th and 5ths etc could also be used.

Question 10

Chordal

Answer 10

The material is concentrated into chords with relatively little melodic activity.

Question 11

Fugal

Answer 11

A contrapuntal musical composition whose basic structure consists of a theme or themes stated successively in different voices.

Question 12

Antiphonal

Answer 12

Performed by 2 semi-independent choirs singing alternate musical phrases.

Question 13

Trio sonata texture

Answer 13

A trio sonata is written for two solo melodic instruments and basso continuo, making three parts in all, hence the name trio sonata.

• The melody instruments used are often 2 violins. A well-known exception to this was Bach’s trio sonata “The Musical Offering”, which is for violin and flute.

Question 14

Countermelody

Answer 14

A sequence of notes, perceived as a melody is played alongside the lead melody as a secondary melody.

Question 15

Descant

Answer 15

One voice (cantus) above or removed from the others.

• Was a form of medieval music in which one singer sang a fixed melody, and other accompanied with improvisations.

Question 16

Canon

Answer 16

Similar to a round - layers.