heterophony
noun
het·er·oph·o·ny
ˌhe-tə-ˈrä-fə-nē 
plural heterophonies
: independent variation on a single melody by two or more voices
Examples of heterophony in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The same motifs are often played simultaneously at different speeds — a technique called heterophony — which subtly reinforces the dramatic narrative.
—
BostonGlobe.com, 24 Oct. 2021
His 1920s recordings with the Red Hot Peppers reached the peak of the New Orleans style of group embellishment and collective improvisation, with its trademark heterophony and polyphony.
—John Edward Hasse, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2018
BostonGlobe.com, 24 Oct. 2021
His 1920s recordings with the Red Hot Peppers reached the peak of the New Orleans style of group embellishment and collective improvisation, with its trademark heterophony and polyphony.
—John Edward Hasse, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heterophony.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Heterophony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heterophony. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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