Answering Aural Questions-texture

1. Answering Aural Questions-texture A framework for answering aural questions using the 6 concepts of music.

2. Answer the question • Read the question carefully and take careful note of key words. • Which of the concepts are involved? • Words like unity, contrast and interest!

3. Structure, Structure, Structure • On first listen work out the structure of the excerpt. • This gives you the opportunity to answer with reference to a number of sections and fills out your answer. • Use dot points or short sentences with one idea per point or sentence.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice • Listen to an excerpt and write down the structure.

5. Texture Layers of sound! • Describe the use of texture overall. Is the texture the same all the way through? Does the texture build up gradually or does it contrast thick and thin textures? • Describe any changes in texture and their effect. Surprise, building excitement, tension and climax?

6. For each section!! • How many bars in this section? • How many layers in this sections? • What instruments play each layer? • What kind of texture? (homophonic, polyphonic, monophonic etc) • Describe the functions of each layer (melody, accompaniment etc)

7. For each section (cont.) • How do the layers interact with each other? (similar motion, contrary motion, question and answer, imitation, call and response, canon) • Draw a diagram of the texture of the piece.

8. Repeat the process!! • Now repeat the questions for any other sections in the except. • For classical music this might mean ABA or rondo form. • For popular music this might mean verse/chorus.

9. Unity • Unity refers to anything that is the same or similar. • The number of layers in the excerpt must be similar or the same in order for texture to contribute to unity. If there are always x amount of layers then texture creates unity. Focus on the interaction between the layers. Does one instrument always have the main melody or counter melody?

10. Contrast? • Contrast refers to difference and diversity! • Adding layers is a common way of building excitement and tension. • Do different instruments share the main and counter melody? • Polyphony and contrary motion create contrast and interest as the melodic lines move independently of each other.

11. Important words • Monophonic texture (monophony): a single layer, one melodic line or unison (more than one instrument playing the same melody). • Homophonic texture (homophony): a melody with a chordal accompaniment. • Polyphonic texture (polyphony): more than one (sometimes many) melodic line playing at the same time. Complex melodies and counter melodies.

12. more important words! • Unison means when two or more instruments play the same note at the same pitch. • Doubling occurs when the same melody is played by more than one instrument an octave apart. • Imitation occurs when a melody fragment is copied by another instrument. • Call and response texture occurs when a solo instrument makes a melodic statement or call and a larger group replies with a different statement.

13. And more important words! • Similar motion occurs when the melodic contour of two melodies is the same. • Contrary motion means that melodies move in opposite directions. • Canon is where melodies are repeated in other voices usually after the melody is completed in another voice. Canon can also be turned upside down (inverted) and played backwards (retrograde).