Question

Traditional music of the Far East is largely _____.

1) homophonic
2) contrapuntal
3) polyphonic
4) monophonic

Answer 1

Traditional music of the Far East is largely monophonic, characterized by a single melodic line without harmonic accompaniment. It often employs aerophones, chordophones, membranophones, and idiophones.

Step-by-step explanation:

The traditional music of the Far East is largely monophonic. This means that the music typically involves a single line of melody with no harmony or accompaniment. Monophonic textures can be found in the sacred music of the medieval period, such as the Gregorian chant, which was prevalent before the development of polyphonic (multiple simultaneous melodic lines) genres in the high medieval era. However, it is essential to note that traditional East Asian music also uses a variety of instruments classified in ethnomusicology as aerophones, chordophones, membranophones, and idiophones which contribute to its distinctive sound.