Monody is a musical term that refers to a style characterized by a single melodic line accompanied by chords or harmony. This style emerged during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods, around the late 16th century, as composers sought to emphasize the text and emotional expression in vocal music.
Monody contrasts with polyphony, where multiple independent melodies are sung or played simultaneously. In monody, the focus is on a single voice or instrument, often with a simple harmonic accompaniment, allowing for greater expressiveness and clarity of the lyrics. This approach paved the way for the development of opera and solo vocal music in the Baroque period.
One of the key forms of monody is the "aria," a solo vocal piece often found in operas and oratorios, which allows for elaborate embellishment and emotional expression. Prominent composers associated with monody include Claudio Monteverdi and Giulio Caccini.