Unit 8. Texture and form

1. Texture

1.1. Definition

1.2. Horizontal writing (based on melody)

1.3. Vertical writing (based on harmony)

2. Form

2.1. Definition

2.2. Types of musical forms according to their performance

2.3. Types of musical forms according to their structure

3. Learn more: Form in popular music

1. Texture

1.1. Definition

Texture is the disposition of the melodic-harmonic elements of a composition. We distinguish two types of texture: horizontal writing and vertical writing.

1.2. Horizontal writing (based on melody)

Horizontal texture can be:

Monody or monophony: it consists of one melodic line. Although several performers take part, everyone plays the same.
Polyphony or counterpoint: it consists of several melodic lines that sound at once. The voices are independent from each other and imitation is often used.

Monody or monophony:

Ecce dominus noster - Gregorian chant

Counterpoint:

Fugue in C Major - Bach

1.3. Vertical writing (based on harmony)

Vertical texture can be:

Accompanied melody: It consists of a main melody accompanied by other voices with chords.
Homophony: It is a type of harmonic texture in which the voices move at once creating blocks of chords

Accompanied melody:

Prelude No. 4 in E Minor - Chopin

Homophony:

The Great Gate of Kiev - Mussorgsky

2. Form

2.1. Definition

The musical form is the structure or temporal scheme upon which music is developed. The basic principles of formal construction are repetition, contrast and variation.

The different sections are represented with letters: lower case for phrases (a, b, c,...) and capital letter for sections (A, B, C,...).

2.2. Types of musical forms according to their performance

Vocal forms: the most important vocal forms are the song (simple form) and compound forms like the opera, the oratorio and the mass.
Instrumental forms: the most important instrumental forms are dance music, small forms for soloists and compound forms like the concerto, the sonata and the symphony.

2.3. Types of forms according to their structure

Simple or minor forms: are those which have just one movement or are of a short duration. Depending on repetition or contrast sections, they can be: primary, binary, ternary, rondo, and theme and variations.
Compound or major forms: those made up of several movements or of a long duration. They are normally composed by putting together several simple forms.
Free forms: those which are not subject to any structure. They don’t follow a fixed structure.