Timbre and Texture

Timbre


To illustrate, first, place the violin into slot 1. Listen to how it sounds.

Then, put in place the flute into slot 1 and listen again. Finally, place the tuba into slot 1.

All three musical instruments sounded different although they are playing the same notes. This difference is what is known as the timbre (pronounced tam-ber) of the sound.

It is what differentiate the sound produced by a violin, cello and a double bass. It is why we instantly knows it is the piano playing in a song instead of an organ because they sounded, well, different. Simple as that.

Again, a more refined explanation can be found here.


Texture

Now this is difficult to explain because of my very limited knowledge. In simple terms, it is the quality of a piece of music by the relationship between all its basic elements - the melody, rhythm, tempo and harmonies, timbre.

We often heard this in music reviews of modern music. The term "texture" used in those reviews of mostly modern pop or rock music is applicable to that particular type or 'genre' of music.

It is different than the actual (and perhaps academic) meaning of the different musical texture which is generally divided into what is called 'monophony', 'homophony', 'homodic', 'polyphony', and 'heterophony'.

For a much more articulate definition read this.


Monophonic music - one single melodic lines throughout with no harmony. Also, the western Gregorian chant is monophonic. For that matter, any chants with a melodic line could be considered monophonic too.



Homophonic music is almost all modern music - pop, rock, jazz, hip-hop. It is music with one main melodic line accompanied by chords (source: Wikipedia). Also, the various musical parts (eg.vocals, guitars, drums, bass) moves together in the same rhythm. So, no YouTube video is necessary.

So far so good.

Now, polyphonic music is beyond my limited mind and untrained ears. In simple terms it means there is more than one melodic line in each musical parts. For instance, the violin parts may play a specific melody while the piano plays a different melody, at the same time.


The Western (or Classical) music of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach is a perfect example of polyphonic music. A midi version of the "Brandenburg Concerto No.4 Third Movement: Presto". The colours help to mentally separate the different voices (there are four).


The version with real players. Try to listen to the different 'voices' or melodic lines. No, i can't discern the different melody yet.

Heterophony means multiple musical parts use the same melody but there is variation of the melody at different times.

As for modern music that you and me listen to, let's just keep texture to the complexity of a piece of music.

The Unforgettable Fire lyrics - U2 lyrics

The Unforgettable Fire Video - U2 Music Videos

Ambient guitar sound together with a driving rhythm section gives this rock song an atmospheric, 'open space' texture during the days when they were still relevant.