Texture

Texture describes how much is going on in the music at any one time

It is about the different ways instruments and voices are combined in a piece of

music

A texture that is essentially chordal

It may also be described as ‘melody with accompaniment’ – melody is the most

important, with other parts providing chordal accompaniment

Consists of weaving together 2 or more equally important melodic lines, which

fit together harmonically

Exam Tip: Sounds ‘busy’!

Playing the notes of a chord separately, one after the other

Provides a more gentle, flowing accompaniment to the melody

Imitate means to copy:A vocal/ instrumental part starts off playing a

melody which is immediately copied by another part

Usually just the first few notes is copied

A type of imitation – like a round where the imitating voice/ instrumental part

repeats the entire melody, not just the opening e.g. ‘London’s Burning’

Music is made up of different layers of sound, which are all important in adding to

the rich texture of the music e.g. African music

All the instruments or voices playing or singing notes at the same pitch

A type of unison - if the instruments or parts play or sing notes an octave apart,

this is called octaves

Remember - to be in unison, the notes must be the same pitch

An example of a monophonic texture

A single melody line without any harmonies, although it may be played by

more than one instrument or voice

Another term for ‘Harmonic/ Homophonic’ texture

A special kind of imitation – a musical phrase is ‘passed around’ between different groups of

voices or instruments

Often the groups are placed in different parts of the building or stage – creates a stereo effect

Watch an example in the following video…

Recitatives – tells the story, like a narrator

Aria – A tuneful songChoruses – Everyone sings

Female opera stars called Divas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmGC3iVIliw&feature=related

Compose and record a short piece of music on the keyboard, using 1 of the following textures:

Chords:

C: C, E and G G: G, B and D F: F, A and C