heterophony

[ het-uh-rof-uh-nee ]

noun

, Music.

1. the simultaneous performance of the same melodic line, with slight individual variations, by two or more performers.

heterophony

/ ˌhɛtəˈrɒfənɪ /

noun

1. the simultaneous performance of different versions of the same melody by different voices or instruments

Other Words From

• het·er·o·phon·ic [het-er-, uh, -, fon, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterophony¹

First recorded in 1940–45; hetero- + -phony