Texture (music)

The texture is often described in regard to the density, or thickness, and range, or width, between lowest and highest pitches, in relative terms as well as more specifically distinguished according to the number of voices, or parts, and the relationship between these voices (see Common types below).

The thickness also is changed by the amount and the richness of the instruments playing the piece.

Many classical pieces feature different kinds of texture within a short space of time.

The upper two parts are imitative, the lowest part consists of a repeated note (pedal point) and the remaining part weaves an independent melodic line: The final four bars revert to homophony, bringing the section to a close; A complete performance can be heard by following this link: Listen Although in music instruction certain styles or repertoires of music are often identified with one of these descriptions this is basically added music[clarification needed] (for example, Gregorian chant is described as monophonic, Bach Chorales are described as homophonic and fugues as polyphonic), many composers use more than one type of texture in the same piece of music.

A simultaneity is more than one complete musical texture occurring at the same time, rather than in succession.

Introduction to Sousa 's " Washington Post March ", mm. 1–7 features octave doubling [ 1 ] and a homorhythmic texture.
" Pop Goes the Weasel " melody [ 6 ]
Pedal tone in Bach 's Prelude No. 6 in D minor, BWV 851, from The Well-Tempered Clavier , Book I, mm. 1–2. All pedal tone notes are consonant except for the last three of the first measure. [ 7 ]
Bar from Bach's Fugue No. 17 in A-flat major, BWV 862, from The Well-Tempered Clavier (Book I), example of contrapuntal polyphony
Homophony in Tallis' " If Ye Love Me ", composed in 1549. The voices move together using the same rhythm, and the relationship between them creates chords: the excerpt begins and ends with an F major triad .
Schubert Sonata in B scherzo bars 1–4
Schubert Piano Sonata in B major scherzo bars 1–4
Schubert Sonata in B scherzo bars 5–10
Schubert Piano Sonata in B scherzo bars 5–10
Schubert Sonata in B scherzo bars 11–20
Schubert Piano Sonata in B major Scherzo bars 11–20
Schubert Sonata in B scherzo bars 21–24
Schubert Piano Sonata in B majore Scherzo bars 21–24
Schubert Sonata in B scherzo bars 25–28
Schubert Sonata in B major Scherzo bars 25–28