(how the different parts of the piece are woven together) Monophonic one single melody line. No harmonies, but it may be played/sung by more than one instrument/voice. – When everyone sings/plays one part together e.g. when we all sing Happy Birthday we are singing in unison (therefore, unison Unison – is monophonic). Octaves - If the instruments/voices are an octave apart this is called being in OCTAVES. To be in unison the notes must be at the same pitch. Homophonic (or harmonic) a texture where all parts (melody and accompaniment) move in the same (more or less) rhythm creating a – chordal effect. The accompaniment is supporting a clear melody. Broken Chords Playing the notes of the chord separately, one after the other. Broken Chords provide a more flowing accompaniment – than when they are played as block chords. Polyphonic / Contrapuntal texture where 2 or more equally important (weave in and out of each other). melodies interweave –A Imitation a phrase is repeated (imitated so not necessarily exactly the same!). Could be one instrument/voice imitating itself, or 2 or – – more imitating each other. Canon is a particular type of imitation. It’s like a round (‘London’s Burning’), where the imitating part repeats the entire melody and – not just a few motes of it. Antiphonal effect as a musical phrase is passed from one group of performers to another. E.g. like two choirs singing alternate –stereo phrases standing in different places in a church. A lot of early religious vocal music was antiphonal. AOS 4 Timbre and Dynamics –
(how the different parts of the piece are woven together) Monophonic – one single melody line. No harmonies, but it may be played/sung by more than one instrument/voice. Unison – When everyone sings/plays one part together e.g. when we all sing Happy Birthday we are singing in unison (therefore, unison is monophonic). Octaves - If the instruments/voices are an octave apart this is called being in OCTAVES. To be in unison the notes must be at the same pitch. Homophonic (or harmonic) – a texture where all parts (melody and accompaniment) move in the same (more or less) rhythm creating a chordal effect. The accompaniment is supporting a clear melody. Broken Chords – Playing the notes of the chord separately, one after the other. Broken Chords provide a more flowing accompaniment than when they are played as block chords. Polyphonic / Contrapuntal –A texture where 2 or more equally important melodies interweave (weave in and out of each other). Imitation – a phrase is repeated (imitated – so not necessarily exactly the same!). Could be one instrument/voice imitating itself, or 2 or more imitating each other. Canon – is a particular type of imitation. It’s like a round (‘London’s Burning’), where the imitating part repeats the entire melody and not just a few motes of it. Antiphonal –stereo effect as a musical phrase is passed from one group of performers to another. E.g. like two choirs singing alternate phrases standing in different places in a church. A lot of early religious vocal music was antiphonal. AOS 4 – Timbre and Dynamics
aqa_areas_of_study_key_words.docx