Einklang

Einklang is a German term that translates roughly as "one sound" or "in accord." In music theory, Einklang denotes the unison, the situation in which two or more voices or instruments sound the same pitch at the same time. It is the closest form of consonance in traditional Western music, distinct from intervals such as seconds or thirds, and is often used to reinforce a melodic line or to create a unified texture. When parts are in Einklang but spread across different octaves, the description may vary by context, with some authors treating octave-spanning sonorities as a type of unison or simply as a combined effect of octave doubling.

Beyond music, Einklang commonly appears in idiomatic German to express harmony or agreement with someone or something. The phrase "im Einklang stehen" means to be in harmony or to be in accordance with a set of principles, goals, or a framework.

Etymology: Einklang is formed from ein meaning "one" and Klang meaning "sound" or "tone." The term has longstanding usage in German musical and rhetorical language and remains in contemporary usage for both technical and figurative meanings.

In usage notes, Einklang contrasts with Mehrklang (polyphony or multiple independent lines) and with Klangfarbe (timbre) in describing how pitches relate simultaneously. It also appears in modern music criticism and analysis to emphasize unity of texture or purpose.