Polyphonic music, in contrast to homophonic music, which has a single melody, and harmony, in which chords harmonize with a leading melody or voice, contains multiple melodies or voices. Polyphonic composition was at its peak during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, when this type of music was very popular. Bach is probably one of the most well-known polyphonic composers. A search for “Bach” will yield a variety of sound clips for those interested in hearing some examples of polyphony. The majority of contemporary music is harmonic in nature.
Multiple voices diverge during a polyphonic performance, resulting in a rich, textured piece. Polyphonic music is difficult to compose because the voices must be distinct while complementing each other. Small tonal differences can cause a piece to clash, jarring the ear and sounding extremely unpleasant. Polyphonic music can be written for voice, instruments, or both, and can have as few as two or as many melodies as desired. To add texture, the melodies may occasionally converge before diverging again.
Because it is the simplest to compose and perform, homophonic music is likely the oldest type of music. Although evidence of polyphonic music does not appear until the Middle Ages, it is likely that people performed polyphonic compositions prior to this time but did not record them. Because of Church subsidies to composers and wealthy people who commissioned works of music for performance in churches, the flourishing of polyphonic music in the Middle Ages is likely due in large part to the Church.
Polyphonic music may appear strange to those who are used to listening to harmonic music. The sound is distinct from that of harmonic music, and a well-executed composition can produce an almost alien sound that is quite impressive. Homophonic music has a different sound than these two types of music, with a more droning, regular nature. Homophonic music is best represented by Gregorian chants.
Polyphony can be found in some Asian music, which is one of the reasons why it sounds so foreign to Western ears. Asian music also employs a variety of keys and time signatures, making it instantly recognizable as the product of a non-Western culture to those with some musical training. After enough exposure to the unfamiliar stylings of Asian music, some Westerners develop an appreciation for it. Similarly, once they get past the strange sound, some Easterners become interested in Western music.