Texture refers to the layers of sound in a composition and how they interact.

In Years 7-10, you may have learnt about music being "monophonic" or "homophonic", as well as describing music as "thin" or "thick". Whilst this is a good start, there is far more detail that you can write about.

In a HSC response you should:

• Identify the texture type (e.g. Monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic, etc.)

• Identify the different layers. Remember that "layers" is not always equivalent to "instruments" (two instruments playing the same melody counts as just one layer)

• Describe the role of each layer (e.g. "The viola and cellos add to the accompaniment by playing a rapid triplet ostinato")

• Explain how different layers interact (e.g. “The Alto, Tenor, and Bass voices sing in rhythmic unison, creating dense block chord harmonies”)

• Discuss any changes in the texture (e.g. “The introduction of a countermelody in the oboe part at bar 9 shifts the piece to a polyphonic texture”)

Key words to look out for are texture, relationship, and roles. You may be asked about texture AND another concept. You may be asked to analyse how texture contributes to tension, contrast, or interest.

Here are a few questions from past papers:

"Texture"

• Describe the use of texture in this excerpt.

• Outline the use of texture and tone colour in this excerpt.

• With reference to texture, explain how tension is achieved in this excerpt. 

"Relationship"

• Describe the relationship between the trumpet, soprano and continuo.

"Roles"

• Outline the roles of each of the instruments featured in this excerpt.

A printable version of this vocabulary list is available to download. It does not include descriptions and definitions in the interest of both space and formatting, and as a means to promote academic inquiry. Students may use this as a word bank to test their understanding of texture vocabulary and/or to pique interest in words that they do not yet know.

This performance activity aims to reinforce student understanding of different texture types.

1. 1. Organise yourselves into pairs (or groups of three, if necessary)

   2. Choose a short, simple, well-known melody (no more than eight bars)

   3. Arrange the melody into the following texture types:

• Monophonic – Play the exact same notes in unison or octaves apart

• Homophonic – One person plays the melody. The other person plays harmonic accompaniment. This can be root notes, arpeggios, Alberti bass, or block chords

• Polyphonic – One person plays the melody. The other person plays a countermelody. You may need to plan this out using MuseScore. Ask your teacher for help if you're stuck

• Silence – *crickets*

• Biphonic – One person plays the melody. The other person plays the root note as a drone

• Heterophonic – Both people play the melody, each with their own slight variations and embellishments. This could involve playing some notes a little bit early or late, using ornamentation, or adding extra notes

• Hocket – Split up the melody so that the notes alternate between performers. It's okay to play several notes (especially if they're quick) before alternating, but try to keep it switching fairly rapidly

• Klangfarbenmelodie – Split up the melody so that there are short phrases which alternate between performers. Unlike hocket, the phrases can be longer and played legato before switching. The phrases don't need to be equal in length

1. 4. Perform your medley of textures! Try to mix them up and ask the rest of the class to guess each texture as they hear it

If you're stuck, feel free to use the pre-prepared sheet music on the left. This uses the texture types listed above based on Mozart's Twelve Variations on "Ah vous dirai-je, Maman" K. 265/300e