Which texture uses chords played together, closely aligned with meter?

Which texture uses chords played together, closely aligned with meter?

• A. Blocked chords
• B. Arpeggiation
• C. Ostinato
• D. Ground bass

Answer: (A)

Playing chords in block form means all the notes of each harmony are sounded at the same time on the beat, creating a solid vertical sonority that clearly marks the meter. This texture emphasizes alignment with the rhythmic pulses, since the harmony changes as neat, simultaneous events on each beat or strong subdivision. Arpeggiation, by contrast, spreads the chord tones out in time, so the harmony isn’t locked to each beat. An ostinato centers on a repeating figure, which may or may not involve chords, but its defining feature is repetition of a motive. A ground bass focuses on a repeating bass line with changing harmony above it, rather than chords sounding together in time.

Playing chords in block form means all the notes of each harmony are sounded at the same time on the beat, creating a solid vertical sonority that clearly marks the meter. This texture emphasizes alignment with the rhythmic pulses, since the harmony changes as neat, simultaneous events on each beat or strong subdivision. Arpeggiation, by contrast, spreads the chord tones out in time, so the harmony isn’t locked to each beat. An ostinato centers on a repeating figure, which may or may not involve chords, but its defining feature is repetition of a motive. A ground bass focuses on a repeating bass line with changing harmony above it, rather than chords sounding together in time.