Polyphony meaning in music

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polyphony. Send us feedback about these examples. Accessed 2 Mar.

Add to word list Add to word list. Types of music. Afrobeat Afrobeats ambient music anthemic atonal drum and bass dubstep early music easy listening EDM Latinize Latinized mariachi melodically monophonic symphonically techno Tejano Tex-Mex toccata See more results ». Related word polyphonic. Examples of polyphony.

Polyphony meaning in music

Fig 1: Baroque orchestra, Nuremburg: Ger. Polyphony is a musical texture that features two or more equally prominent melodic lines played at the same time. Each of these lines can be thought of as a melody in its own right -- one that could be sung, played, or listened to independently of the others. But it is the combination of the different strands, all interacting together, that creates polyphony. Fig 2: Four independent, simultaneous lines, forming a polyphonic texture. Fig 3: Medieval singers Lucca, St. Polyphony may be likened to a dialogue, a discussion, or even an argument between two or more speakers, all talking concurrently. As a result, polyphony may be judged as the most complex of all the musical textures, since it challenges a listener to concentrate on several, equally important layers of sound. The musical lines in a polyphonic texture may be instrumental or vocal, or both. Polyphony may dominate an entire musical work, a significant section of a piece, or it may appear for only a short time. For example, in both of the following excerpts, a section in a more active polyphonic texture is either preceded or followed by one in which the various voices and instruments play in synch with one another. The portions that do not use polyphony therefore urge the listener to concentrate on a single melody in the overall texture, rather than on the several layers of sound. In the first of the two selections that follow, an early 19th-century sacred piece from the United States, the opening two lines of the text are sung together -- at the same time and to the same rhythm -- by all the parts.

Fig 5: Trio sonata: gamba, two flutes keyboard not shown. Log In. See also: Traditional sub-Saharan African harmony.

We explain the basics of polyphony and how it works, with examples from well-known composers. The word polyphony comes from the Greek for 'many sounds', which gives you an instant clue as to how the term is used in relation to music. Polyphony is essentially a term used to describe the simultaneous use of two or more melodies or voices within a composition. This could be anything from a simple canon or round to something much more complex. In one guise or another, polyphony has been a technique used within music compositions for centuries. Although — as styles and trends have changed over time — the exact form it has taken has varied. Polyphonic music was developed throughout the 10 th to 13 th centuries but it really took off during the Renaissance period, when polyphonic compositions started to become much more complex and intricate.

We explain the basics of polyphony and how it works, with examples from well-known composers. The word polyphony comes from the Greek for 'many sounds', which gives you an instant clue as to how the term is used in relation to music. Polyphony is essentially a term used to describe the simultaneous use of two or more melodies or voices within a composition. This could be anything from a simple canon or round to something much more complex. In one guise or another, polyphony has been a technique used within music compositions for centuries. Although — as styles and trends have changed over time — the exact form it has taken has varied. Polyphonic music was developed throughout the 10 th to 13 th centuries but it really took off during the Renaissance period, when polyphonic compositions started to become much more complex and intricate. Monophony is the opposite of polyphony. While polyphony uses 'many sounds' to create texture within a piece, monophony is characterised by a single melody that isn't accompanied by harmonies - if you remember 'delighting' your parents by blasting out a tune on the recorder or singing nursery rhymes at the top of your lungs as a child, you'll have been giving them a monophonic performance.

Polyphony meaning in music

Add to word list Add to word list. Types of music. Afrobeat Afrobeats ambient music anthemic atonal drum and bass dubstep early music easy listening EDM Latinize Latinized mariachi melodically monophonic symphonically techno Tejano Tex-Mex toccata See more results ».

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Kaufamann Popular in Wordplay See All. This article is about the musical texture. Polyphony may dominate an entire musical work, a significant section of a piece, or may appear for only a short time within a composition. Share the Definition of polyphony on Twitter Twitter. Within the context of the Western musical tradition, the term polyphony is usually used to refer to music of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. This resulted in a transition in the s. These accompanying parts do not challenge the overall description of the section or work as polyphonic. See more. Retrieved 7 August The singing of the San people , like that of the pygmies, features melodic repetition, yodeling, and counterpoint. Log In.

Polyphonic music has parts that weave in and out of each other. Polyphonic music is also sometimes called contrapuntal close contrapuntal Interweaving melodic parts, also known as polyphonic.

Pick the best ones! Archived from the original PDF on 7 March The Dorze people , for example, sing with as many as six parts, and the Wagogo use counterpoint. Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms. Afrobeat Afrobeats ambient music anthemic atonal drum and bass dubstep early music easy listening EDM Latinize Latinized mariachi melodically monophonic symphonically techno Tejano Tex-Mex toccata See more results ». For example, in both of the following excerpts, a section in a more active polyphonic texture is either preceded or followed by one in which the various voices and instruments play in synch with one another. In the first of the two selections that follow, an early 19th-century sacred piece from the United States, the opening two lines of the text are sung together -- at the same time and to the same rhythm -- by all the parts. Add to word list Add to word list. The portions that do not use polyphony therefore urge the listener to concentrate on a single melody in the overall texture, rather than on the several layers of sound. Translations of polyphony in Chinese Traditional. June