Texture and compositional techniques

Question 1

texture

Answer 1

the manner in which the various voices in a musical composition combine to create the sound

Question 2

homophonic texture

Answer 2

music in which one voice dominates while the other voice or voices are accompaniments

Question 3

two styles of homophonic texture

Answer 3

• melody with accompaniment

- chordal homophony

Question 4

polyphonic or contrapuntal texture

Answer 4

two or more independent voices

created by blending independent voices

Question 5

motif/motive

Answer 5

small musical unit that is the basis of a musical composition
may be melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic in nature

Question 6

theme

Answer 6

complete musical idea or phrase upon which a musical composition is created

Question 7

repetition

Answer 7

motive repeated immediately on the same note

Question 8

sequence

Answer 8

motive repeated immediately in the same voice on a different note

Question 9

imitation

Answer 9

motive repeated in a different voice

Question 10

canon

Answer 10

repetition of an entire theme or phrase in another voice

may be on the same note, in another octave or on a different note

Question 11

pedal point

Answer 11

a sustained note in one voice, usually in the bass (but not always)

Question 12

ostinato

Answer 12

a persistently repeated pattern

Question 13

augmentation

Answer 13

doubling of the rhythmic value of each note

Question 14

diminution

Answer 14

rhythmic value of each note is shortened by half