This week our discussion will be an analogy using the three basic musical structures (monophony, homophony, polyphony) as found in Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from the Messiah [CD #1, track 11].

This week our discussion will be an analogy using the three basic musical structures (monophony, homophony, polyphony) as found in Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from the Messiah [CD #1, track 11]. It is important to listen to this piece to better understand and define these 3 elemental structures and to do this comparison and analogy; so be sure to read about them in the lectures this week and listen to the music using the listening notes. Then answer the following:

In defining the 3 structural forms of monophony, homophony and polyphony; make an analogy about their structures. Listen to how Handel uses these forms to heighten the impact of the words. Then answer:

“What non-musical forms or structures found in nature or man-made are analogous to ‘monophony’ (unison), ‘homophony’ (chordal or vertical movement), and ‘polyphony’ (independent, layered or horizontal movement). [You can try to do one that combines all three or three different things that defines each texture.]