Texture

·      Texture refers to how many different layers of sound are heard at once, to what kind of layers they are, and to how they are related to each other.  The three common types of textures are Monophonic, Polyphonic, and Homophonic.  Monophonic is a single melodic line without accompaniment.  Polyphonic is the simultaneous performance of two or more melodic lines of relatively equal interest.  Homophonic is when you hear one melody accompanied by chords.

·      In the band Gwendal, uses a homophonic texture throughout the piece.  It starts off with the flute playing the melody, while the acoustic guitar plays the chords.  Then the violin comes in with the same part as the flute at 0:59.  The bass guitar comes in at the same time helping the acoustic guitar.  The piccolo comes in at 1:19 with the same melody.  This is called imitation since an instrument comes and plays the same notes as the other instruments.  Imitation occurs when a melodic idea is presented by one voice or instrument and is then restated immediately by another voice or instrument.  These additions make the piece sound full and lively. 

·      The traditional Mongolian piece by the Khatan Ekh Ensemble.  This particular piece is homophonic and polyphonic.  When the time signature changes, the texture changes as well.  The piece starts off with most of the instruments present: Morin Khuur, Mongolian Xylophone, Yatga, Ikh Khuur, and the Limbe.  The Morin Khuur and the Limbe have the melody.  They play the same parts.  The Mongolian Xylophone, Yatga, and Ikh Khuur play the harmony.   At 2:05 the Yatga has the melody and the Morin Khuur has the harmony. Then all the other instruments come in for the harmony.  This lasts until 2:20.  Then it goes back to being Homophonic with the Morin Khuur and the Limbe playing the melody and the Mongolian Xylophone, Yatga, and Ikh Khuur playing the harmony. 

·      The comparisons between the pieces are that both have homophonic textures.  The only difference is that the traditional Mongolian piece changes texture to polyphonic and changes back to homophonic.