MUSICAL CONTENT ON HARMONY AND TEXTURE: TEACHING HARMONY

AND TEXTURE
(Reporter 1)
Harmony.
In music, the sound of two or more notes heard simultaneously. In practice, this broad
definition can also include some instances of notes sounded one after the other.
(Showing example sounds of Harmony)
8 types of Intervals

Harmonic Interval

 A harmonic interval describes the distance between two pitches that are sounded
together, at the same time (as in harmony).
 Two notes are written/played simultaneously (at the same time)

CONSONANCE AND DISSONANCE

CONSONANCE
 Consonance is when two or more tones complement each other to produce a sound
that is pleasant to the ear. Consonant intervals include the major/minor third, the
perfect fifth, and unison/octave.
DISSONANCE
 Dissonance is when two or more tones clash and create a harsh, unpleasant sound.
Consonance and Dissonance
THE CONSONANT INTERVALS ARE THE THE DISSONANT INTERVALS ARE THE
FOLLOWING: FOLLOWING:

a. Unison (same two notes played together) a. Major and Minor 2nds
b. 5th or Perfect 5th b. Major and Minor 7ths
c. Octave
d. Major and Minor 6ths

Chords and Triads

 A chord usually consists of three notes that make up what is called a triad.
 A triad consists of a root (the note that the chord is named after) a third (the note
three steps away from the root) and a fifth (the note five steps away from the root
 135= Triad

(Reporter 2)
3 Different Types of Harmony in Music
Harmony takes many forms. Here are the three most popular and important forms of
harmony.
Diatonic harmony.

 Which uses notes from the key signature to create melodies and chords.
(Provide examples)
Non-diatonic harmony.
Which utilizes notes from the key signature as well as notes from outside of the key
signatures. (Provide examples)
Atonal harmony.
Which doesn’t use traditional tonal centers at all. (Provide examples)

(Reporter 3) MARTINEZ
TEXTURE
Texture in music refers to the way different musical elements, such as melody,
harmony, and rhythm, are combined to create the overall sound and feel of a piece.
Texture in music refers to how individual sounds, or groups of sounds, are layered
and combined to create a rich and complex musical experience. In this guide, we’ll
delve into the various types of textures, how they’re made, and how they impact the
overall experience of listening to a piece of music.

Types of Texture

Monophony / Monophonic Texture

 In monophonic music, a single person plays or sings one melody or tune. This solo is
free from any harmonic accompaniment. Many simple songs we learn as children are
monophonic.
 Monophonic is from the Greek words “mono” and “phonic.” Mono means one, while
phonic is “relating to sound.”

Examples of Monophony
Gregorian chant
Folk songs
Solo performance without any accompaniment or ornamentation
Bagpipe music
Sports fans chanting in unison
(Reporter 4) LIPRESO
Homophony / Homophonic Texture

 The definition of homophony comes from Greek (homo-phonic), literally meaning

“same sounding”
 With homophonic music, you’ll have a melody and accompanying instruments.
However, they are not independent melodic parts. Instead, they blend as they typically
have the same melody.

Examples of Homophony
1. Maple Leaf Rag
2. Seventh Symphony
3. Big Yellow Taxi
4. Ave Maris Stella
Polyphony / Polyphonic Texture

 The definition of polyphonic texture comes from the Greek (poly-phonic), literally
meaning “many sounds”
  The polyphonic texture describes many harmony possibilities within a single piece.
To be considered polyphonic, music must feature two or more melodies. Using
counterpoint, or separate but related harmonies and melodies, is vital to polyphonic
texture because it adds dimension.

Examples of Polyphonic Music:

1. Winchester Troper, Verset: Pascha Nostrum – Unknown
2. Sumer is icumen in, Reading Abbey
3. Sederunt Principes, Pérotin
4. The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Lion King
5. Yelli, Baka Women

Heterophony / Heterophonic Texture

 Two melodic lines that follow each other, but with more ornamentation in the main
melody
 Heterophonic music is where a melody is varied by an additional voice/part at the
same time as the original melody is being played.
Examples of Heterophonic:

1. Ottoman classical music

2. Japanese Gagaku
3. Kulintang ensembles of the Philippines
4. Gamelan music of Indonesia
(Reporter 5)
HOW HARMONY AND TEXTURE WORK TOGETHER?

 Harmony and texture are essential elements in music, working in tandem to create
rich and nuanced compositions. Harmony refers to the simultaneous combination of
different musical notes to produce a pleasing sound. It establishes the vertical
structure of music, conveying emotions and creating tension or resolution.
 Texture, on the other hand, relates to the overall sound quality and density. It
encompasses how different musical elements, such as melody, harmony, and rhythm,
interact to shape the overall auditory experience. Texture can be thick or thin, dense or
sparse, and it greatly influences the mood and character of a piece.
 In music, harmony contributes to the texture by influencing the density and
complexity of the sound. Different harmonic progressions can create varying textures,
from a simple and clear texture with basic harmonies to a more intricate and layered
texture with complex harmonic structures. Essentially, harmony and texture are
interwoven, collaborating to shape the overall sonic landscape of a musical
composition.

(Reporter 6) FALCON
Teaching Harmony in Elementary Music:
  Have students explore their vocal range by singing along with simple piano
accompaniments.
 Teach them to sing a melody while you sing a harmony. Gradually, switch roles so
they get accustomed to both parts.
 Choose familiar songs and introduce a simple harmony part. Use call-and-response
methods to help students internalize the harmonies.
 Play recordings of songs with clear harmonies. Ask students to identify and imitate
the harmonies they hear.
 Introduce basic instruments like handbells, chimes, or boomwhackers to play simple
harmonies along with singing.
Teaching Texture in Elementary Music:

 Play various pieces with different textures (homophonic, polyphonic, monophonic).

Discuss each, pointing out how they sound.
 Use visuals like posters or drawings to represent each texture.
 Introduce various instruments and demonstrate how they contribute to different
textures.
 Create visual aids like charts or posters that illustrate different textures using symbols
or colors.
Remember to keep activities age-appropriate, encourage creativity, and allow students to
express themselves through both singing and playing instruments. Integrating these strategies
will make the learning experience enjoyable and effective for elementary students.