monophony

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monophony, monophonic (Gr.). One sound. Mus. which has a single melodic line of notes without harmonies or melody in counterpoint, as opposed to polyphony and homophony. Oldest type of mus., being only type perf. in Ancient Gr., early church mus. (Gregorian etc.), and mus. of Minnesinger, Meistersinger, etc. All this mus. was in monophonic notation, which is a term covering several systems. For special 20th-cent. application, see mono.