Texture

Texture describes how layers of sound within a piece of music interact. Imagine that a piece of spaghetti is a melody line. One strand of spaghetti by itself is a single melody, as in a monophonic texture. Many of these strands interweaving with one another (like spaghetti on a plate) is a polyphonic texture. If all of these strands were placed directly on top of each other and all lined up (like spaghetti in a packet), they could move together in chords. This would be similar to a homophonic texture.

Some music is written with 'block' chords, some has weaving parts around the tune, and some music has no harmony at all. These are all examples of textures in music.

Imgaine singing the melody of a song - it doesn't matter how many people are singing that melody  - the texture would be MONOPHONIC  but - if there is just one person singing you might describe the texture a THIN - if many people are singing you might describe the texture as THICK.

If someone then starts strumming along to the melody on a guitar- the texture will CHANGE to HOMOPHONIC (melody plus chordal accompaniment) The same would be true if someone added a vocal harmony to the melody. Words to describe this might be THICKENS. or becomes more DENSE or FULLER.

If you added other instruments or vopices singing other independent  meodies - that texture would change to POLYPHONIC.  A word to describe polyphonic might be COMPLEX or BUSY.

Handel's Hallelujah Chorus is a great example of changing texture in music - see below !

Questions to ask about texture in music 

1. What is the predominant texture?     Monophonic?   Homophonic?   Polyphonic?

2. Does the texture change? How and Where 

     Describe the changes in detail.  Use bar numbers or track time references.

3. Describe the role of each instrument? 

e.g. The guitar is playing the melody and the piano and bass guitar are providing the harmony.  This section is homophonic.

4. Is there any layering of instruments? e.g.  Does the bass start, then 2 bars later the guitar enters, followed by the piano etc

5. Describe the layers and how thick or thin the music is. 

6. Have any timbre's changed - does this effect the texture? 

e.g. Guitar – from picking to strumming or just changing the strumming can create a thicker texture 

        Bass – Long notes vs moving notes or shorter notes.  

        Drums – Different parts of the kit can create a thicker texture - a ride cymbal quaver pattern would be thicker

                              than a closed hi-hat. 

        Keys – Block chords vs broken chords 

7. What is the effect of the texture changes?

8. Can you link the texture to: 

   1. the expression of the music - polyphonic could give the effect of excitement the section of the song - 

   2. the beginning could be a thin texture, while the final chorus could be very thick - helping to build tension. 

   3. the meaning of the lyrics - the lyric 'lonely' could be sung in monophonic texture, supporting the meaning of the word. 

   4. the lead and backing vocals sing together could give a feeling of unity

9. Some other things to discuss:

   1. How do the other instruments or voices support the melody? Are they all playing at once?  or layer in? Do they play patterns that repeat? 

   2. Do groups of instruments play the same thing, or are they all different? 

   3. Do any instruments syncronise (play the same thing) for a moment? 

   4. Does the accompaniment ever draw attention to itself and away from the melody? How complicated is the accompaniment? Does the accompaniment sound “happy,” “sad,” etc? Why? 

   5. Are there moments where there is no sound (silence)?