Texture

Musical texture refers to how many different layers of sound are heard at once, to what kind of layers they are, and to how they are related to each other. There are three kinds of musical textures, which are monophonic, homophonic, and polyphonic texture. Monophonic texture is a single melodic line without accompaniment, while homophonic texture is one main melody that is accompanied by chords. And lastly, polyphonic is simultaneous performance of two or more melodic lines of relatively equal interest produces the texture.

Although one gayageum uses arppegiation for ornamentation, for example at 0:01 and 0:06, Arirang for Gayageums with 18 and 25 Strings uses monophonic texture. The two gayageums simultaneously play the melody at the same time. When more than one instrument plays a single melodic line at the same pitch, it gives a fuller, richer sounding monophonic texture.

Different from Arirang for Gayageums with 18 and 25 Strings, Guyun: El Maestro uses homophonic texture. Although one guitar plays the piece, the chords arranged and arppegiation played by the guitar gives a feeling of homophonic texture. For example at bar 6, arppegiation is used on the second beat of the bar for ornamentation and at bar 7, the chord in the first beat of the bar sounds like accompanying the following notes in the bar. The effect of homophonic texture is that harmony that accompanies the melody strengthens the expressive quality of the melody.

Style

The different musical texture of the two pieces delivers different mood and style to listeners. The monophonic texture of Arirang for Gayageums with 18 and 25 Strings makes the style of the piece simple. Although there is arppegiation as ornamentation, but the unison sound of the two gayageums makes the piece simple and uncomplicated.

Different from Arirang for Gayageums with 18 and 25 Strings, Guyun: El Maestro’s style is elaborate and complicated. With various chord constructions, complex rhythmic and melodic elements of Cuban traditional music enrich the style of the piece. Moreover, the piece incorporates elements of jazz, specifically the improvisatory elements, and combines with a free rhythm that is liberally played by the performer.

Time Signature

Both Arirang for Gayageums with 18 and 25 Strings and Guyun: El Maestro is written in 3/4. However, in Guyun: El Maestro, there is one place where time signature changes at bar 9 from 3/4 to 2/4. The effect of this is that the two quarter chords give a feeling of inclination move onto the next phrase that starts with 3/4 again.