How to Approach Analysis of Texture
Abigail Tilton and Elizabeth Wilson
The first step in analyzing texture in a choral piece is to determine which of the previously mentioned categories your piece falls into. It is important to note that one texture may not fully describe a full piece. It may be helpful to break up sections. For example, the introduction of the piece may be monophonic, while a later section may be polyphonic.2. Determine the melody.
Determining the melodic line in a piece should not be the only thing you take note of, however. Oftentimes in polyphonic textures it is clear that one line should be emphasized, but the secondary voice parts still have important themes that need to be heard by the audience in order to be understood.Being aware of the role a voice part has in the greater texture of a piece is integral to determining how the piece is performed. Being able to recognize when a piece is considered homophonic and which voice parts should be considered accompaniment is vital to how the music is heard by the audience. If an accompaniment line is just as loud as the melody, the audience will inevitably become confused, and end up disliking a piece just because of how it is performed, rather than how it was written.
Following these steps will help determine how you, as a conductor or a singer, should perform the piece.
