polyphonic
Multiple simultaneous melody lines
Polyphonic describes music with multiple independent melodic lines sounding simultaneously, as opposed to a single melody with accompaniment.
A Bach fugue is polyphonic; a folk song with guitar chords is not.
The term extends to anything with multiple simultaneous voices or elements: a polyphonic novel that shifts between narrators.
Simultaneous independent melodies
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
- canonAccepted authoritative works
- motetSacred polyphonic choral work
- madrigalUnaccompanied Renaissance choral composition
acapella · chorale · part-song · imitation · round · cantata · voices · choristers
Simultaneous independent melodies
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
- canonAccepted authoritative works
- inventionNew device or method
- motetSacred polyphonic choral work
madrigal · imitation · development · variation · form · structure · baroque · renaissance
Simultaneous independent melodies
- voicesSounds producing speech
- interweavingCrossing strands alternately
- layeredHaving multiple levels
- contrapuntalInterlocking independent melodies
independent · imitation · canon · fugue · dense · rich · complex · woven
Sounds producing speech
- narrativeAccount of events
- perspectivesAttitudes toward situations
- dialogicInvolving reciprocal exchange
- chorusSingers performing together
interweaving · multilayered · discourse · novel · storytelling
counterpoint
Simultaneous independent melodies
madrigal · acapella · chorale · part-song · imitation · round · cantata · voices · choristers · ensemble
counterpoint
Simultaneous independent melodies
motet · madrigal · imitation · development · variation · form · structure · baroque · renaissance · tallis
counterpoint
Simultaneous independent melodies
- voicesSounds producing speech
- interweavingCrossing strands alternately
- layeredHaving multiple levels
contrapuntal · independent · imitation · canon · fugue · dense · rich · complex · woven · stratified
voices
Sounds producing speech
- narrativeAccount of events
- perspectivesAttitudes toward situations
- dialogicInvolving reciprocal exchange
chorus · interweaving · multilayered · discourse · novel · storytelling
synthesizer
Electronic sound-generating instrument
sampler · organ · accordion · bagpipe · hurdy-gurdy · carillon · gamelan · harmonium · layered · drone
- music wordsacoustic, melodic, harmonic, rhythmic, bass
- ringtoneschime, melody, jingle, beep, buzz
- music adjectivesmelodic, harmonic, rhythmic, tonal, tuneful
- poly- wordspolygon, polymer, polyglot, polymath, polynomial
- music termsmelody, tempo, rhythm, harmony, beat
- Baroque MusicBach, Vivaldi, Handel, harpsichord, Vivaldi Four Seasons
polyphonicmonophonic
Having one voice
homophonic · unison · monody · monaural · plainchant
polyphoniccacophonous
Harsh and jarring
discordant · dissonant · inharmonious · jarring · atonal