Arts & Culture
The Development of Polyphonic Texture in Medieval Sacred Music
Quick fact
The earliest form of polyphony, called 'organum,' emerged in the 9th century, adding a second voice that moved in parallel intervals, often a perfect fourth or fifth below the main chant.
Why this is interesting
You know how a choir can sing different notes at the same time to create a rich, layered sound? Did you know that for centuries, Western sacred music was strictly monophonic—just a single melody? So how did we get from a lone chant to the harmonies we hear today?