monophony

In music, monophony is the simplest of textures, consisting of melody without accompanying harmony. This may be realized as just one note at a time, or with the same note duplicated at the octave (such as when men and women sing together). If an entire melody is played by two or more instruments or sung by a choir with a fixed interval between the voices or in unison, it is also said to be in monophony. Music in which all the notes sung are in unison is called monophonic. Musical texture is determined in song and music by varying components. Songs intersperse monophony, heterophony, polyphony, homophony, or monody elements throughout the melody to create atmosphere and style. Monophony may not have underlying rhythmic textures, and must consist of only a melodic line. The music with a melodic line and rhythmic accompaniment is called homophony.

Monophonie (auch Monofonie; von monos „einzig, allein“ und φωνή phonḗ „Stimme“) bedeutet in der Musik Einstimmigkeit, also das Vorhandensein nur einer einzigen Stimme. Der Gegenbegriff ist  Polyphonie (Vielstimmigkeit). Musik ist in diesem Sinne (Anzahl der Stimmen) entweder monophon oder polyphon. Dieselbe Unterscheidung ist bei Musikinstrumenten möglich.

Monofoni är den musikteoretiska termen för enstämmig sats - om man i det fallet vill tala om sats - alltså en oackompanjerad melodi, eller på sin höjd en melodi med ackompanjemang av enbart rytminstrument eller bordun.