Monophonic music involves a single melody line without any accompanying harmony or counterpoint. It is essentially a single voice or instrument playing a single melody.
Polyphonic music involves multiple independent melody lines played simultaneously, creating a complex interweaving of musical lines. Each voice or instrument in a polyphonic piece is given equal importance and contributes to the overall texture of the music.
Homophonic music features a single dominant melody line with accompanying chords or harmonies. The harmony supports and reinforces the melody, creating a clear distinction between the main melody and the accompanying parts. Homophonic music is often more straightforward and easier to follow compared to polyphonic music.
describe monophonic, polyphonic, and homophonic music.
3 answers
so what would a single organ playing rapidly that it sounds like two organs playing be considered
If a single organ is playing rapidly in a way that it sounds like two distinct melody lines are being played simultaneously, it would be considered polyphonic music. This is because even though the sound is coming from a single instrument, the listener perceives it as if multiple independent voices or melodies are being played at the same time, creating a polyphonic texture.