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“Imitative” polyphony will, in fact, be a hallmark of this piece. There is room for word-painting too, for instance, the word “aquarum” is set to a “flowing” melody. The motet’s overall effect is impressive and grandiose.
In music, imitation is the repetition of a melody in a polyphonic texture shortly after its first appearance in a different voice. The melody may vary through transposition, inversion, or otherwise, but retain its original character.
In contrast to the independence of the musical lines in non-imitative polyphony, imitative polyphony allows the members of a polyphonic texture to share audible features of the melodic material, as they echo portions of it among the various parts.
Imitative polyphony is a musical texture where two or more independent melodies are played or sung simultaneously, with one voice or instrument echoing or imitating the melody of another. This technique creates intricate interactions between the lines, adding depth and complexity to the music.
Imitative polyphony consists of two or more independent voices which "converse" with statements of an identical or very similar musical idea. The "musical idea" is often a motive, though it may be something longer, too.
In contrast to the independence of the musical lines in non-imitative polyphony, imitative polyphony allows the members of a polyphonic texture to share audible features of the melodic material, as they echo portions of it among the various parts.
There are two main types of polyphony: imitative and non-imitative. In imitative polyphony, a single melody is heard in more than one voice, with staggered entrances. The voices or instruments imitate each other. Some examples of imitative polyphony include rounds, canons, and fugues.
Imitative counterpoint occurs if one voice repeats or mimics the patterns just stated in another voice. A canonic process occurs if the anwering voice or voices repeat the lead voice exactly. A composition based upon this process is a canon. Imitation is continuous throughout a canon.
The use of polyphony continues with more elaborate techniques of imitative polyphony used in the music of Handel and Bach. Homophonic (melody plus accompaniment) textures emerge including the use of basso continuo (a continuous bass line over which chords were built used to accompany a melodic line)
Fugue, in music, a compositional procedure characterized by the systematic imitation of a principal theme (called the subject) in simultaneously sounding melodic lines (counterpoint). The term fugue may also be used to describe a work or part of a work.