Which best describes the texture favored for improvisation during the Baroque period?

The texture favored for improvisation during the Baroque period is best described as homophonic. During this time, music typically featured a single, dominant melodic line accompanied by harmonic support, which aligns with the characteristics of homophony. This structure allowed performers, especially keyboardists and string players, to easily improvise embellishments and intricate patterns above a clearly defined harmonic framework.

In Baroque music, the use of figured bass, where performers were expected to realize chords based on the notated bass line, exemplifies this homophonic approach. It provided a foundation for improvisation, encouraging musicians to explore expressive melodic variations while maintaining clear harmonic progressions.

While monophonic textures consist of a single melody without accompaniment and polyphonic textures feature multiple independent melodies, they do not align with the typical practice of improvisation that characterized the Baroque era. Heterophony, which involves variations of a single melody performed simultaneously, was less common in the context of Baroque improvisation compared to the more homophonic style that emphasized harmonic support for a leading melody.