Polyphony (many voiced) refers to a texture that has two or more ideas occurring at the same time. These ideas are often melodies that are competing with one another. Imagine sitting around the campfire and some are singing a song while a guitarist is improvising a solo over the top of them. One kind of polyphony presents two distinct melodies that are different. Another kind of polyphony is called a canon. Yet another type of polyphony features imitation. Polyphony is the most complex of textural ideas.