Ed Zubrow wrote:

>Can anyone explain the difference between homophony (homophonic music) and
>monody (monodic music)?

Homophonic writing means that all of the parts move together in the same
rhythm.  It is chordal writing, but there are no independent melodic lines.
A Palestrina motet, for example is polyphonic, the hymn "Amazing Grace" is
homophonic.

Monody, on the other hand, implies a single melody, which may or may not be
accompanied.  Gregorian chant is monody.  The early songs of composers such
as Caccini and Monteverdi are also called monodies, as they have only one
line of melody, and the accompaniment is only a harmonic underpinning as
opposed to having independent melody lines sounding against each other.

Hope this helps.

Kevin Sutton