Music Appreciation Complete Practice Test 2025

Early polyphony is characterized by the technique where each voice enters successively with the same melody. This practice is often referred to as "organum" in which one voice would sing a melody, followed by additional voices that would enter sequentially, typically mimicking the same melodic line at different pitch intervals. This layered approach created a richer texture in music compared to monophonic music, which only features a single melodic line.

This method of adding voices sequentially was significant in the development of Western music, as it laid the groundwork for more complex forms of counterpoint and harmony. The use of the same melody ensures that while the voices build upon one another, they still maintain a cohesive melodic identity, showcasing the early experimentation with vocal harmonization that would evolve into more intricate polyphonic works in subsequent musical periods.