Some theoretical treatises dating back to the early Middle Ages detail music with two separate vocal parts intended to complement one another. Polyphony defined a lot of European music up to the 20th century, although details regarding its exact origin is still unclear. These effects can happen when a singer might ad-lib or improvise at the end of a song while the chorus continues the refrain. These singers are generally accompanied by either a guitar or other instruments, which is an excellent example of homophony as they are carrying the primary melody with their voices and musical instruments accompany them ( source).Īlthough most modern pop songs are homophonic by nature due to the presence of a single clear melodic line, they can often temporarily incorporate polyphonic effects. Most choral music, such as Protestant hymns and barbershop quartets, fall into the homophonic category, as does a small instrumental combo where, for example, a bass, a piano, and a drum set provide the rhythmic background for a trumpet solo.Įasily the most common and recognizable form of homophonic texture in music is the commercially-produced music we listen to from individual singers. Homophonic music is the most natural texture in Western music and easily recognizable even by the layman. However, it will be clear that these accompaniments exist to fill in the melody rather than serve as melodies themselves. In some well-written homophonic musical pieces, the accompanying parts may still have a melodic interest, meaning that they are interesting to listen to on their own. The other parts that make up this type of music are used to fill in the chords or serve as the accompaniment. Homophonic music has one clear melodic line, which is generally easily discernible. This article will take an in-depth look at what constitutes the difference between these textures and where they are most prevalent. Polyphony features many independent melodies, which we can also refer to as counterpoint or contrapuntal. Homophony is the most common texture in Western music and, when in one single rhythm, can also be referred to as homorhythmic. In contrast, polyphony refers to a piece of music consisting of a mix of melodies, each separate and independent, yet in harmony with the rest. Homophony refers to a piece of music that features a primary melody with accompaniment. The difference between polyphony and homophony is single versus multiple melodies.

There are four main musical texture types: monophony, polyphony, homophony, and heterophony. Texture in music refers to the way that different sounds created by either musical instruments or singing contribute to the overall effect of the musical piece.

Polyphonic example