Harmonic Ostinato


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Harmonic Ostinato

Like a melodic ostinato, a "harmonic ostinato" is a repeated pattern intended to be performed together with melody. But a harmonic ostinato produces homophonic texture because it contains a repeated pattern of chords. The example below contains both a melody and a harmonic ostinato.


First, click below to hear the harmonic ostinato alone.





Next, click below to hear the melody plus harmonic ostinato.



** IMPORTANT DEFINITION **
A Harmonic Ostinato is a short, repeated chordal accompaniment pattern which is intended to be performed along with a melody.




Here is another example of a melody plus a harmonic ostinato, producing homophonic texture. In the exerpt below, the harmonic ostinato begins first and the melody enters later.


Click below to hear an excerpt from "Trois Gymnopedies," by Satie.



Go on to Page 4.


Homophonic Texture
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