Chapter 8, Musical Texture and Chapter 9, Musical Structure Summary and Analysis

Copland states that there are three kinds of musical texture. They are: monophonic, homophonic, and polyphonic.

The simplest type of musical texture is monophonic. It is simply a single melodic line that has no accompaniment. The author claims that it takes great effort to compose a worthy monophonic piece. According to the author, the finest, and perhaps the oldest, example of monophony is the Gregorian chant.

The second type is homophonic texture. This texture remains simple and is only slightly harder to recognize or hear than a monophonic texture. Homophonic texture is simply a principal melodic line with chordal accompaniment. Copland believes that homophony was the invention of an early breed of Italian opera composers. The theory is that the Italian opera composers chose to create a form of...