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Polyphony (/ p ə ˈ l ɪ f ə n i / pə-LIF-ə-nee) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords .
Polyphony is the combination of two or more tones or melodic lines in music, or the use of characteristic devices of verse in prose. Learn about the history, forms, and features of polyphony in Western art music and polyphonic prose.
- Mark Devoto
Polyphony is a style of musical composition with two or more independent melodic lines. Learn the etymology, examples, and history of this word from Merriam-Webster, America's largest dictionary.
Apr 16, 2024 · Polyphony is a musical texture that contains at least two or more lines of independent melody. It originated from the Middle Ages and was influenced by the church, the Renaissance, and the African culture. Learn about the types, history, and examples of polyphony in music, such as canons, fugues, and heterophony.
Jun 11, 2018 · Polyphony is a style of music in which several melodic lines are combined and harmonized. Learn about the history, types, and masters of polyphonic music from various sources and dictionaries.
Polyphony is a term coined by Russian linguist and literary critic Mikhail Bakhtin to describe literary writing that allows the voice of its characters to be heard as many voices, not as one. Learn how polyphony challenges the privileging of harmony and the authorial voice in literature, and see examples of polyphonic works by Dostoevsky and other authors.
In literature, polyphony (Russian: полифония) is a feature of narrative, which includes a diversity of simultaneous points of view and voices. Caryl Emerson describes it as "a decentered authorial stance that grants validity to all voices."
