Polyphony and AP Music Theory
Make sure you have looked through the basic information page found here!
Polyphonic - multiple independent musical melodies playing simultaneously
Polyphonic/Counterpoint – multiple voices which are relatively independent from one another.
Polyphonic texture ("many sounds;" noun: polyphony) describes a musical texture in which two or more melodic lines of relatively equal importance are performed simultaneously. This is a fairly complex style which served as a proving ground for composers from around 1500-1800. It is important to note that a group of singers are required in polyphonic music, but polyphony can be performed on some instruments-such as the piano, organ, and guitar-by a single musician.
Where might one encounter polyphonic texture?
Vocal and instrumental music from the Renaissance through the Baroque
Music for large instrumental ensembles
Religious choral music
A round or canon
Polyphonic - multiple independent musical melodies playing simultaneously
Polyphonic/Counterpoint – multiple voices which are relatively independent from one another.
Polyphonic texture ("many sounds;" noun: polyphony) describes a musical texture in which two or more melodic lines of relatively equal importance are performed simultaneously. This is a fairly complex style which served as a proving ground for composers from around 1500-1800. It is important to note that a group of singers are required in polyphonic music, but polyphony can be performed on some instruments-such as the piano, organ, and guitar-by a single musician.
Where might one encounter polyphonic texture?
Vocal and instrumental music from the Renaissance through the Baroque
Music for large instrumental ensembles
Religious choral music
A round or canon
Difference between Polyphonic and Contrapuntal
Contrapuntal- music which written specifically using counterpoint techniques e.g. species or free counterpoint, and typically used in the description of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music.
Polyphonic- many voices/layers/melodies and is a much more general term covering a wide variety of styles and periods
Therefore all music which is counterpoint is polyphonic, however music does not have to be written using counterpoint techniques in order to be considered polyphonic.
Contrapuntal- music which written specifically using counterpoint techniques e.g. species or free counterpoint, and typically used in the description of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music.
Polyphonic- many voices/layers/melodies and is a much more general term covering a wide variety of styles and periods
Therefore all music which is counterpoint is polyphonic, however music does not have to be written using counterpoint techniques in order to be considered polyphonic.
EXAMPLES
Pachelbel's Canon
Anything titled "fugue" or "invention"
The final "Amen" chorus of Handel's "Messiah"
The trio strain of Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever", with the famous piccolo countermelody
The "One Day More" chorus from the musical "Les Miserables"
The first movement of Holst's 1st Suite for Military Band
Pachelbel's Canon
Anything titled "fugue" or "invention"
The final "Amen" chorus of Handel's "Messiah"
The trio strain of Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever", with the famous piccolo countermelody
The "One Day More" chorus from the musical "Les Miserables"
The first movement of Holst's 1st Suite for Military Band