a texture with more than one equally important melodic line

a texture consisting of a melody with a clearly separate accompaniment

music which uses only notes that are based in the key (e.g. C major or F minor)

music that uses notes from outside the key, creating more complex harmony

This creates a complex polyphonic texture, which is typical of the period.

British English CC

The violin uses a distinct motif, that is then copied in the flute.

What is it that makes the accompaniment sound like an accompaniment?

Can you hear the pattern repeating in the accompaniment here?

Which instruments play the main melody and the countermelody?

Listen again to that countermelody. How does it contrast with the main melody?

Can you identify which is the distant key, and the effect that this has? Ex.1

Can you identify which is the distant key, and the effect that this has? Ex.2

What cadence is used at the very end?

Texture and harmony across the eras

Music

The Baroque period

The Classical period

The Romantic period

Classical music in the 20th century

This unit builds on the Introduction to the WCT unit, exploring the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods in greater depth, assessing the development of key musical trends, and finishing with a look at developments in the 20th century.

The Western Classical Tradition: extended

Which texture is most strongly linked with the Baroque period?

In the Classical period, the dominant texture was melody and {{}}.

Classical harmony was chromatic, Romantic was diatonic

Classical harmony was mostly diatonic, Romantic harmony was often chromatic

What is one key comparison between Classical and Romantic harmony?

diatonic harmony with modulations to related keys

diatonic harmony, clear cadences, balanced modulations

chromatic harmony with complex modulations and chords

Match the period with its common harmonic feature:

Which of these textures was less common in the Romantic period?

The Romantic orchestra often used harmony with {{}} notes, outside the key, to create dramatic tension.

Which of these textures uses more than one equally important melodic line?

A texture with a clear main tune and a separate accompaniment is called {{}} and accompaniment.

melody and accompaniment with variety and complexity

Match the period with its most common texture:

What does the word diatonic mean in harmony?

A change of key during a piece is called {{}}.

Which period of music came directly after the Baroque period?

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Texture and harmony across the eras

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.