heterophony

: independent variation on a single melody by two or more voices.

Heterophony is different from unison. The term was coined by Plato and literally means “different voices.” A good example of heterophony is the Gaelic band The Chieftans' tune: The Wind That Shakes The Barley. Each instrument plays the same melody, but embellishes it slightly with grace notes, vibrato, etc.

Heterophony is often a characteristic feature of non-Western traditional musics - for example Ottoman classical music, Arabic classical music, Japanese Gagaku, the gamelan music of Indonesia, kulintang ensembles of the Philippines, and the traditional music of Thailand.

Heterophony is characterized by multiple variants of a single melodic line heard simultaneously. Homophony is characterized by multiple voices harmonically moving together at the same pace. Polyphony is characterized by multiple voices with separate melodic lines and rhythms.

A heterophonic texture is the simultaneous variation of a single melody line. A variation of the melody is played over the original melody. Heterophony is often found in gamelan music.

The word homophonic comes from the Greek words homo (meaning same or similar) and phonic (meaning sound or voice). Homophonic music refers to music that has one sound or line of melody being played by multiple instruments at the same time. One instrument plays one note, and a second instrument plays a note in harmony.

Examples of Homophony A singer accompanied by a guitar picking or strumming chords. A small jazz combo with a bass, a piano, and a drum set providing the “rhythm” background for a trumpet improvising a solo. A single bagpipes or accordion player playing a melody with drones or chords.

Etymology. From Ancient Greek ἑτεροφωνία (heterophōnía). Synchronically, hetero- +‎ -phony.

There are multiple lines in heterophony as in polyphony, however in heterophony they are all variations of the same fundamental line and are thus very similar to each other, whereas in polyphony they are all independent lines.

having the same sound adjective. having the same sound. Music. having one part or melody predominating (opposed to polyphonic).

Examples of Homophony A singer accompanied by a guitar picking or strumming chords. A small jazz combo with a bass, a piano, and a drum set providing the “rhythm” background for a trumpet improvising a solo. A single bagpipes or accordion player playing a melody with drones or chords.

The word homophonic comes from the Greek words homo (meaning same or similar) and phonic (meaning sound or voice). Homophonic music refers to music that has one sound or line of melody being played by multiple instruments at the same time. One instrument plays one note, and a second instrument plays a note in harmony.