MONODY A

term with a denite historical origin. Monody is a style of accompanied solo song, consis9ng of a vocal line (frequently embellished) and simple, o@en expressive, harmonies. It arose about 1600, par9cularly in Italy, as a response to the polyphonic style of 16th-century vocal genres such as the madrigal and motet (see Weelkes Sing we at pleasure, NAM p.349), where melodic interest was shared between the parts and the meaning of text could be lost in the interweaving of elaborate lines. In the new monodic style composers placed renewed emphasis on proper ar9cula9on, as well as expressive interpreta9on of o@en highly emo9onal texts. These eects could only be achieved, they felt, by abandoning counterpoint and replacing it with simply accompanied recita9ve. In the development of this more solois9c style which was one of the driving forces in the origin of Baroque musical style emphasis shi@ed to a single upper line for melodic interest accompanied by instrumental parts to ll a harmonic texture (e.g. keyboard, basso con9nuo or strings). The need for expressive clarity gave rise to a clearer sense of phrase and cadence, and with it a move towards func9onal tonality. The new style was termed secunda pra1ca ('second prac9ce'), to dis9nguish it from the prima pra1ca of Renaissance polyphony. To contrast the old and new styles, compare the motet-like modal polyphony of Gabrieli's Sonata pian' e forte, NAM p.194, with the monodic sec9ons of the later In Ecclesiis, NAM p.269. __________________ The emergence of a more solois9c style led to the polarisa9on of treble parts & basso con9nuo, leading to the trio sonata and other solo forms such as the concerto grosso and solo concerto. __________________ There is some overlap between the terms 'monody' and 'homophony': monody emphasises the dis9nct or solois9c role of the main melody, while homophony emphasises the concord and alignment between voices in the texture. From this perspec9ve, much orchestral music could be said to be monodic, i.e. a melody in the upper range accompanied harmonically. __________________ Don't confuse monody with monophony (music with a single line or part, e.g. unison plainchant or unaccompanied solo ute).