The fifteenth century also saw the beginning of composed homophony — that is, music in a harmonic, chordal texture (see page 29). In the simpler plainchant paraphrases of the time, the melody is often highlighted by an accompaniment that does not really sound polyphonic. Though there are still several polyphonic voices, most of the time their independence vanishes because they move along together and form simple chords.

The effect is of a melody on top supported by a harmonization below. Once again the emphasis is on sensuous effect rather than on the more intellectual process of polyphony.