" Melodies of a New Monasticism " adopts a musical metaphor of polyphony (the combination of two or more lines of music) to articulate the way that early Christian virtues can be woven together in community.. " Melodies of a New Monasticism " adopts a musical metaphor of polyphony (the combination of two or more lines of music) to articulate the way that early Christian virtues can be woven together in community.