Counterpoint vs Polyphony

Side-by-side comparison of two musical terms.

	Counterpoint	Polyphony
Definition	The art of combining two or more independent melodic lines simultaneously.	A musical texture featuring two or more independent melodic lines sounding simultaneously.
Category	composition	composition
Pronunciation	KOWN-ter-point	—
Origin	Latin (contrapunctus, note against note)	Greek
BPM	—	—
Synonyms	polyphony part-writing	Polyphonic texture Contrapuntal texture
Antonyms	homophony monophony	Homophony Monophony
Usage	In the fugue, three voices enter one by one, each stating the subject while maintaining independent contrapuntal motion.	The motet weaves four independent vocal lines into a rich polyphonic tapestry.

Definition: The art of combining two or more independent melodic lines simultaneously.
Category: composition
Pronunciation: KOWN-ter-point
Origin: Latin (contrapunctus, note against note)
Synonyms: polyphony part-writing
Antonyms: homophony monophony
Usage: In the fugue, three voices enter one by one, each stating the subject while maintaining independent contrapuntal motion.

Definition: A musical texture featuring two or more independent melodic lines sounding simultaneously.
Category: composition
Origin: Greek
Synonyms: Polyphonic texture Contrapuntal texture
Antonyms: Homophony Monophony
Usage: The motet weaves four independent vocal lines into a rich polyphonic tapestry.