ThePolyphonic era is a term used since the mid-19th century to designate an historical period inWestern classical music in whichharmony in music is subordinate topolyphony.[1] It generally refers to the period from the 13th to the 16th century.[2] Most notated music consisted of the simultaneous flow of several different melodies, all independent and equally important, or polyphony. Usually made of four or five different choral parts, the music was originally for unaccompanied voices and was used mostly in themass andmotet of church music and themadrigal in secular music.
Earliest forms of notated polyphonic music are developed known asars antiqua or "ancient art".
New techniques of rhythm and melody brought more feeling to the music, paving the way for the first important polyphonic music schools. "Ars nova" means "new art".
During theBaroque period, forms become more elaborate, attention paid to dramatic effect, choruses combined with arias, duets and quartets with choral music accompanied by instruments. New church forms developed such as theoratorio, the passion, and thecantata.[clarification needed]
As a designation of an historical period, the term has become less convincing as polyphony increasingly reasserted its dominance over harmony in 20th-century music.[1]
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