Understanding texture
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify different textures and analyse interaction between instruments effectively.
Key learning points
- Texture refers to both the number of different musical lines and the way that they relate to each other.
- Common textures include monophonic, homophonic, unison, melody and accompaniment and polyphonic.
- Other specific relationships between parts include contrary motion, imitation and harmonisation.
Keywords
Unison - when parts play the same rhythm and pitch (including in octaves)
Melody and accompaniment - a texture including a separate melody and accompaniment
Polyphonic - where there are two equally important but independent melodic parts
Contrary motion - where two parts move in opposite directions (e.g. ascending and descending)
Harmonisation - when one part plays at the same time as a melody, adding notes that create harmony with the melodic line
Common misconception
Homophonic and melody and accompaniment textures are the same thing.
Melody and accompaniment is a specific type of homophonic texture, often called melody-dominated homophony. This is different to a chordal homophonic texture. To avoid confusion, it is easiest to treat melody and accompaniment as a separate texture.
Teacher tip
Skill at identifying texture comes through exposure to different types of texture as well as experience experimenting creatively with them. Consider creating opportunities for pupils to explore texture in composition - short exercises creating different textures will help to embed learning.
Licence
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