CHAPTER 5 Musical Texture
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The element that describes the musical fabric, or the relationship of musical lines within a work, is called
a. harmony. c. texture.
b. meter. d. timbre.
2. A texture featuring a single, unaccompanied line is called
a. monophonic. c. polyphonic.
b. homophonic. d. contrapuntal.
3. The predominant texture in music up to about one thousand years ago was
a. polyphonic. c. monophonic.
b. homophonic. d. all of the answers shown here.
4. Traditional music of the Far and Middle East is largely
a. homophonic. c. polyphonic.
b. contrapuntal. d. monophonic.
5. When a melody is combined with an ornamented version of itself, often heard in New Orleans jazz, the resulting texture is known as
a. monophony. c. heterophony.
b. monody. d. homophony.
6. The resulting texture when two or more independent melodic lines are combined is called
a. polyphony. c. homophony.
b. monophony. d. heterophony.
7. The texture that combines two or more simultaneous melodic lines is called
a. monophony. c. heterophony.
b. homophony. d. polyphony.
8. ________ is when a single voice takes over the melodic interest while the accompanying voices are subordinate.
a. Homophony c. Polyphony
b. Counterpoint d. Monophony
9. ________ describes the texture in which all the voices move in the same rhythm.
a. Homorhythm c. Homometer
b. Polyrhythm d. Polymeter
10. The procedure in which a melodic idea is presented in one voice and then restated in another is called
a. inversion. c. retrograde.
b. diminution. d. imitation.
11. A ________ is a composition with strict imitation throughout.
a. canon c. augmentation
b. retrograde d. sequence
12. A simple and familiar type of canon is called a
a. theme. c. round.
b. motive. d. scale.
13. What well-known tune is an example of a round?
a. Row, Row, Row Your Boat c. The Itsy Bitsy Spider
b. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star d. Old MacDonald
14. The Kyrie by Hildegard of Bingen is an example of which texture?
a. monophonic c. homophonic
b. polyphonic d. heterophonic
15. The second movement of Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 (Surprise) is an example of
a. monophony. c. homophony.
b. polyphony. d. heterophony.
TRUE/FALSE
1. Monophony is a single-voiced texture.
2. Traditional music of the Middle and Far East is typically polyphonic.
3. Counterpoint is the art of combining two or more simultaneous melodic lines.
4. The art of counterpoint is most closely associated with monophonic texture.
5. Heterophony results in simultaneous elaborations of the same melody.
6. “Homophonic” describes a single-voiced texture without accompaniment.
7. In a polyphonic texture, the melody and harmony always move with the same rhythm.
8. Most compositions have one type of texture exclusively.
9. In imitation, a melodic idea in one voice is restated in another.
10. A canon is a type of round.
11. Polyphonic music requires more experienced listening.
12. Spirituals often depend on heterophonic texture.
13. Row, Row, Row Your Boat is commonly performed using a homophonic texture.
14. An example of polyphony is when a singer carries the tune against harmonic accompaniment on the piano.
15. Polyphony describes a many-voiced texture with different melodic lines.
ESSAY
1. Compare the principal types of texture discussed in this chapter, giving examples of each.
2. Describe the relationship between imitation and canon in music.
3. Describe the difference between homophony and heterophony.
4. Explain why homophony can’t include counterpoint.
