Texture (Continued)

Homophony is the most commonly found texture in Western music. In homophonic music, a single melodic line usually carries the melody (the “tune”). From most listeners' point of view, that melodic line is heard over the harmonic accompaniment. On most keyboard pieces, for example, the right hand usually carries the main melodic line while the left hand provides the harmonic accompaniment. In popular music, the lead singer sings the vocal melody over the band's harmonic accompaniment.

Operatic arias of the Romantic period, notably those by Giacomo Puccini, provide good examples of homophonic music. An aria is a song, tune, or melody sung by a single voice with or without accompaniment, and often, as in the following example, as part of a larger work.  "Un bel di", an aria from Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly, is arguably one of the most popular pieces of all time.