What is heterophony?

• A. The manner of playing notes.
• B. A composition imitated after a delay.
• C. Multiple performers elaborate the same melody with variations.
• D. Gradually speeding up.

Answer: (C)

Heterophony describes a musical texture where several performers share the same melody at the same time, but each one adds its own ornaments, rhythmic refinements, and slight timing differences. You hear a single tune that everyone recognises, yet the parts diverge through embellishments, creating a richer, woven sound. This fits the description of multiple performers elaborating the same melody with variations, because the melody stays the reference point while each voice alters it. It isn’t about the general manner of playing notes or articulation alone, nor about one part echoing another after a delay (that would be imitation or a canon), and it isn’t about changing tempo (that would be accelerando).