Monophony: a single melodic line
Monophony is a musical texture with only one melodic line and no accompaniment. A person singing alone, or a whole group singing the same tune together, is monophonic. Gregorian chant is the classic example.
Monophony (say muh-NOFF-uh-nee) comes from the Greek monos, single, and phone, sound. Monophonic music has just one melody. There are no chords underneath, and no second melody. It is the simplest musical texture, and the oldest.
What does monophony sound like?
Imagine one person humming a tune to herself. There is only one pitch at a time. The same is true if a group sings in unison, meaning everyone sings the same notes at the same pitch. Even if some people sing the same tune an octave higher or lower, as when men and women sing together, it is still monophony, since the line is the same.
What are examples of monophony?
- Gregorian chant: The unaccompanied sacred songs of the medieval church, sung in Latin, are the best-known example. They were traditionally written on a staff of four lines, not five.
- A solo singer without backing: A lullaby or a folk song sung without instruments.
- A group in unison: A crowd singing a tune together with no harmony.
- A solo instrument line: A flute or a trumpet playing a melody alone.
How is monophony different from homophony and polyphony?
| Texture | Number of melodies | Accompaniment |
|---|---|---|
| Monophony | One | None |
| Homophony | One | Chords or a pattern |
| Polyphony | Two or more | Each line is a melody |
Many people confuse monophony with homophony. The question is whether anything else is sounding. If the singer is alone, or if all voices sing the same tune, it is monophony. If chords are added below, it becomes homophony. If other melodies are added, it is polyphony.
Why is monophony important?
It is the starting point of Western music history. Early chant was monophonic. Later, singers began adding a second voice to the chant, and from that experiment polyphony developed. Many folk traditions around the world are monophonic too, with a single singer or a group singing in unison. Monophony puts the focus on the melody itself: its shape, its rhythm and the text.
How do you perform monophony?
Since there is nothing to hide behind, intonation and rhythm matter even more. A singer must sing in tune, shape the phrase and breathe at the right places. In a group, everyone should match vowels, pitch and timing. A group of singers in unison must listen carefully to blend into one sound. Players of solo instruments such as the flute use phrasing, dynamics and tone color to keep the line alive.
Practice tip: Sing a simple tune alone and record it. Listen for the pitch of each note, and try to make the phrase smooth. It is a good way to improve your ear.
Compare the sound of a single line with a melody supported by chords. You will notice how much the harmony adds to the color of the music, even though the tune is the same.
Check yourself
1. What does monophony mean?
Answer: A single melodic line. The prefix mono means one, so only one line sounds.
2. Which is a classic example of monophony?
Answer: Gregorian chant. It is unaccompanied single-line music.
3. If a whole choir sings the same tune in unison, what is the texture?
Answer: Monophony. Everyone sings the same line.
4. What is added to monophony to make homophony?
Answer: Chords. With chords underneath, one melody has accompaniment.