What are the characteristics of an organum?

Answer 1

Organum is a form of early polyphonic music that developed in the Middle Ages, characterized by the addition of one or more melodic lines to a pre-existing chant. Key features include the use of parallel motion, where the added voices move in parallel intervals, typically a fourth or fifth above the original melody. Organum often employs a free rhythm that complements the chant's modal structure, creating a richer harmonic texture. It laid the groundwork for the development of more complex polyphonic styles in Western music.