Polyphony

Polyphony occurs in music of many parts, when all or several of the parts (i.e. instruments/ voices) move independently and are of equal importance. The opposite of polyphony is monody, which occurs when all the parts move together in the same rhythm.

monody
'Imperii process' by Henricus Isaac (1450-1517) Find out more about this CD

Hear how the music proceeds in 'block chords'. Only at the end of phrases do you hear the parts 'breaking out' into small moments of ornamentation.

Polyphony
'Contrapunctus a 5' from the Art of Fugue BWV 1080, by J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Find out more about this CD

Hear how the 5 string instruments enter one at a time with independent parts, and how their constant 'dialogue' forms the intricate texture of this piece.