Final answer:
For a musical texture characterized by a dominant melody, the correct option is (c) Homophonic. This texture features a main melody with harmonic accompaniment, differentiating it from other textures like monophonic, polyphonic, and heterophonic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the concept of musical texture, which refers to the overall sound of a piece of music based on how many layers of sound are heard at once and how they interact. Looking at different types of textures:
- Monophonic texture is characterized by a single melodic line without any accompaniment. Medieval music, particularly Gregorian chant, is a prime example of monophony.
- Polyphonic texture occurs when two or more independent melodies are played simultaneously. The high medieval era saw the development of polyphony, particularly with the advent of the Ars nova period.
- Homophonic texture is what the question focuses on. It consists of a primary melody supported by chords. This type of texture is central to most Western music since the Renaissance.
- Heterophonic texture is when a melody is played with variations by multiple performers simultaneously.
A comparison to related musical concepts can help us further clarify. Timbre, for instance, refers to the color or quality of sound that makes a particular musical sound unique from others—not to be confused with pitch or loudness (decibel). Renaissance music brought forward a richer texture with four or more parts, with a significant focus on harmony and modal scales. As the move towards the Baroque period began, these modal scales started shifting towards tonality with the use of fifths root motion.
In summary, for a musical texture characterized by a dominant melody, the correct option is (c) Homophonic. This assigns a principal role to a single melodic line with a harmonic accompaniment, distinguishing it from monophonic, polyphonic, and heterophonic textures.