Which polyphony maintains the same thematic material in all voices, with examples such as canon and fugues?

• A. Unequal-voice polyphony
• B. Equal-voice polyphony
• C. Contrapuntal polyphony
• D. Monophony

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how melodic material is shared across the parts in a polyphonic texture. When every voice carries the same theme, appearing in each line (often entering at different times), that structure is equal-voice polyphony. Canons and fugues illustrate this clearly: in a canon, the exact same melody is sung by all voices, staggered in time so the material remains identical across parts; in a fugue, the subject is introduced by one voice and then taken up by others, preserving the same tune as it moves through the texture. This creates cohesion because the same thematic material binds all voices together, even though they may enter sequentially or move independently.

Unequal-voice polyphony would have voices of differing importance or material—one line might serve as a cantus firmus while others elaborate, so the theme isn’t shared equally. Monophony involves a single melody with no polyphonic texture at all.