heterophony
/ˌhɛtərəˈfoʊni/
noun
- A type of musical texture where two or more voices perform different versions of the same melody at the same time.
- In traditional Japanese music, heterophony is common, with the shamisen and voice playing slightly different melodies.
- The choir's performance used heterophony, creating a rich, layered sound.
- Heterophony differs from harmony because the parts are variations of a single tune, not separate chords.