Contrapuntal

For part of our course, we have been asked to identify and analyze from textural and contrapuntal effects on tracks. There are four types of describing musical texture are: Monophonic, Polyphonic, Homophony and Heterophony.

Monophonic means it is one single line. For example, a solo guitar piece with no backing whatsoever. It also applies to a group singing/playing the same melody, like happy birthday or a hymn.

Polyphonic is multiple lines. A choir is polyphonic, as each section or member is singing harmonies at certain points.

Homophonic is almost like Monophonic, except there is usually some kind of backing. The single line is the dominating melody, and everything else is just there to support it. Most music now is homophonic, where the singers vocal melody is dominant and the band accompanies this.

Heterophony is again, almost like Monophonic, whereas the line is usually played or sang the same with little variations. If you listen to some African chants, you can hear this. It's pretty much the same, except each person puts their own twist on it.

I'm going to choose three songs and analyze where each of these come up. My three songs are:

• Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
• AFX  -Children Talking
• Steve Reich - Six Pianos

As mentioned earlier, most music nowadays is Homophonic. This happens in the verse of Good Vibrations, where it's the vocalist standing out and the band kind of in the background. However, when it gets to the chorus, it changed to Polyphonic, because a second melody comes in. This melody is a harmony line, but it's still different enough to be classed as a new melody. It keeps switching between the two, which gives lots of contrapuntal effects.

In the AFX song, it starts with a child talking about mash potatoes. This is monophonic, as there's nothing there to accompany it. Although it's not sang or played, it still has pitch and is therefor it's classed as a melody. When the electric percussion comes in, it creates a rhythmic counterpoint. This is where the drums is playing something completely different and different rhythms to the melody.

Six Pianos was composed by Steve Reich. By the title, there are six pianos, meaning this track itself is polyphonic, but starts off monophonic. This is because there is one piano playing the melody. As the other pianos are added, it becomes polyphonic. Each piano is playing different but the same things, if that makes sense, as it's just phased. Some pianos are also dedicated to playing a separate melodies, giving a more complex contrapuntal effect.