What is organum?

• A. A late-Renaissance polyphonic mass setting
• B. Early form of polyphony in which voices were sung in parallel motion
• C. A solo vocal performance without accompaniment
• D. A type of instrumental concerto

Answer: (B)

Organum is an early form of polyphony where a second voice is added to a plainchant melody, creating parallel or moving lines against the chant. The chant remains the foundation, and the added voice often moves in consonant intervals such as fourths or fifths, producing a fuller, layered texture. Over time, composers moved beyond strict parallel motion toward more independent lines, but the defining idea is the addition of voices to a chant to create early polyphony. This isn’t a late-Renaissance mass setting, a solo vocal piece without accompaniment, or an instrumental concerto, which is why the description fits organum best.