Texture: The fabric of Music

Subject: Music
Course / Level:  3º ESO
Title of the Unit: Musical texture              

Learning outcomes:

• Revise the definitions of the different kinds of textures.
• Identify every texture with its representation in the musical language in the score.
• Identify each texture by a listening exercise.

Subject content: Types of musical textures:

•  Unison or monophonic
•  Polyphonic or contrapuntal music 
•  Homophonic
•  Heterophonic
•  Melody and accompaniment

Methodology:

• The methodology will be active and participatory.
• Groupings: individual work, pairs and plenary.
• Timing: one session of 55 minutes.
• Activities:

1. Introductory activity of presentation of the theory (input section): different types of textures showing their representation in the score and also aurally, using classical and popular music (15 min.)

What is Texture?

Is the musical weave or fabric of a piece. In music, texture refers to the way multiple voices (or instruments) interact in a composition.

Types of Musical Texture

Although there are multiple ways of describing texture in music, we will focus on five particular types:

1. Monophonic

Literally meaning "one sound," monophonic texture describes music consisting of a single melodic line. Whether it is sung/played by one person or many, as long as the same notes and rhythms are being performed, monophonic texture results.

Where might you encounter monophonic texture?

• Unison singing at a religious service
• "Happy Birthday" at a birthday party
• A composition for solo flute

A graphic representation of monophony may look like this:

2. Polyphonic

Polyphonic texture describes a musical texture in which two or more melodic lines of relatively equal importance are performed simultaneously. The clearest example of counterpoint or polyphonic texture is the canon.

Where might one encounter polyphonic texture?

• Vocal and instrumental music from the Renaissance through the Baroque.
• Music for large instrumental ensembles
• Religious choral music
• A canon.

A graphic representation of polyphony may look like this:

3. Homophonic

Homophonic texture is a type of harmonic texture in which the voices move at once creating blocks of chords. It is also called "homorhythmic" because the voices also move at the same time. This texture is perceived as a dense and homogeneous block of sound.

A graphic representation of homophony may look like this:

4. Heterophonic

Heterophonic texture is rarely encountered in western music. It consists of a single melody, performed by two or more musicians, with slight or not-so-slight variations from performer to performer. These variations usually result from ornamentation being added spontaneously by the performers. Heterophony is mostly found in the music of nonwestern cultures such as Native American, Middle Eastern, and South African.

A graphic representation of heterophony may look like this:

5. Accompanied melody

Accompanied melody is the texture we encounter most often. It consists of a single, dominating melody that is accompanied by chords. Sometimes the chords move at the same rhythm as the melody; other times the chords are made up of voices that move in counterpoint to each other.

Where might one encounter accompanied melody?

• Most popular music styles (rock, folk, country, jazz,etc.)
• Accompanied vocal music from the Middle Ages to the present
• Hymn singing during a religious service

A graphic representation of homophony may look like this:

 Información obtenida de: http://learn.midsouthcc.edu/

Music I ESO. Editex

Music. A world of sounds B. Editorial Marfil.

1. Answer individually a true or false excercise related to the topic. (5 min.)

a) A musical composition only has one kind of texture.

b) Gregorian chants are an example of a plyphonic texture.

c) The homophonic texture is formed of various melodic lines of equal importance that progress independently with the same rhythm.

d) The texture of an accomplanied melody is of the kind in which there are no chords played along with the melody.

e) Heterophony is a variant of the monophonic texture.

1. Activity in pairs: listening differents excerpts of music, one student ask and the other answers orally to the questions (10 min.)

- What instrument interprets the melody? what other instrument can you hear? Identify the families to which the instruments belong to.

- How many melodic lines can you hear?

- Does it have any kind of accompaniment or is it a cappella?

- What kind of texture can you identify in each part?

- Can you describe the type of texture with adjectives?

http://aulaymusica.blogspot.com.es/2012/06/unidad-8-textura-musical-audiciones.html

1. Match every texture with its visual representation. Plenary and oral activity. (5 min.)   http://LearningApps.org/display?v=psu2fk0oc01
2. Add a second melody to create a song with an specific musical texture (the first melody is provided). Then play the (with the recorder or other melodic instrument) the two part song with a partner (20 min.)

Music I ESO. Editex

Music. A world of sounds B. Editorial Marfil.

Basic vocabulary (Scaffolding the linguistic content)

At once: al mismo tiempo.

Heterophonic: heterofonía.

Homophonic: homofonía.

Light: ligero, liviano.

Monophonic: monodía.

Pattern: secuencia.

To perform: tocar.

Polyphonic: polifonía.

Rough: áspero.

Sleeve: manga de ropa.

Smooth: fluido.

Thick: denso, espeso

• On line resources:

1. Concept map: review of the different musical textures and its graphic representation.

 http://cmapspublic.ihmc.us/servlet/SBReadResourceServlet?rid=1218580510619_204642691_18052&partName=htmltext
2. Webquest to review the theoretical contents of the unit.
 http://mariajesuscamino.com/webquestion/textura1/3. Wix with musical excerpts of the different textures.
      http://aulaymusica.blogspot.com.es/2012/06/unidad-8-textura-musical-audiciones.html

             4. Exercise to review the theoretical contents of the unit.

      http://LearningApps.org/display?v=psu2fk0oc01