Texture

I often have to explain different musical concepts to students. There are lots of different ways to describe sound, but I think one of the most descriptive is texture. The idea that music has a thickness or a thinness that can be compared to the feel of fabric or other material often puzzles students. Music can be described in terms of a physical surface and still make total sense to the artist side of you. Whenever I think of texture in music, I think of the choral composer Eric Whitacre. His musical texture is very thick, smooth and slippery to me. Tell me what you think of when you hear this piece: "Lux Aurumque".