Questions tagged [counterpoint]
Questions relating to the uses, history, types, or analysis of counterpoint.
33
questions
32
votes
11
answers
44k
views
How is counterpoint different from harmony?
Harmony is a kind of second sound you hear. Counterpoint is also the second sound you hear.
Aside from technical differentiation, how can you by ear differentiate these two concepts. Is it possible ...
- 2,263
21
votes
2
answers
15k
views
Is there any real difference between Counterpoint and Polyphony?
From what I understand, they both kind of refer to the same thing. Why the need for 2 terms?
- 1,332
7
votes
1
answer
527
views
Should we avoid two consecutive leaps forming triads in cantus firmus?
Currently I am reading this set of rules used for creation of cantus firmus.
The rule VII.E states:
Avoid two consecutive leaps forming triads
Is this rule correct? I am in doubt since I thought ...
- 533
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can modal counterpoint be studied without studying harmony? Where to start?
I have a background 1 year of harmony study and I'm now taking a non-western modal approach to music (trough Indian Classical Music, which is mainly monophonic and have no concept of harmony). I have ...
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Parallel Fifths in Pachelbel's Canon in D?
The other day, I was watching a scrolling score of Pachelbel's (in)famous Canon in D on Youtube, when I noticed something interesting. In the excerpt below, shouldn't the the circled notes in the 1st ...
- 20.8k
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Why does Fux use F# in his counterpoint to a firmus written in G mixolydian
In the given image below, Fux writes a counterpoint to a cantus firmus given to him as part of his studies by his fictitious teacher Aloysious.
A rule that is often emphasised is that one should ...
- 211
11
votes
6
answers
1k
views
What's "species counterpoint"? Are there any other types of counterpoint?
I believe the title says it all. On Wikipedia it shows the five species but I have the idea that there is another type of counterpoint not based on those species. Is that vague idea of mine correct?
I ...
9
votes
3
answers
6k
views
What's the difference between sixteenth century counterpoint and eighteenth century counterpoint?
What's the difference between sixteenth century counterpoint and eighteenth century counterpoint? Is sixteenth century counterpoint melody or modal based (as this answer suggests) and eighteenth ...
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Accidentals in First Species Counterpoint
On page 39 of Alfred Mann's The Study of Counterpoint there is a passage concerning justification of using accidentals in first species counterpoint.
Here is the passage:
Aloys: [...]but why did you ...
- 1,169
21
votes
6
answers
3k
views
What is the purpose of the rules in counterpoint composition?
When composing in any form of counterpoint, there are many, many rules to follow. But why? What is the ultimate goal of following the(se) formula(s)?
- 2,608
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Online counterpoint materials
For a long time I've wanted to teach myself counterpoint, but haven't been able to find any materials online. Are there any hidden tutorials anyone knows of, or good books written in English in the ...
- 39
7
votes
1
answer
257
views
How to evaluate a counterpoint?
I am currently studying counterpoint in order to prepare my first year in a Faculty of music. I have diverse resources at my disposal like The Complete Musician (Laitz) in addition to online resources....
- 71
7
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor breaks the "no parallel octaves" rule?
I notice in his BWV 565, more well known as Toccata and Fugue in D minor, what looks like a lot of parallel octaves in the fugue. I have studied counterpoint before and every counterpoint resource I ...
- 6,614
7
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Can the leading note resolve down?
Would like to ask if the leading tone in chord V (G) could resolve downwards to Eb (fifth of chord I)?
I’ve somehow recall reading that the rule (leading note MUST resolve to tonic) only applies to ...
- 71
7
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What is the definition of counterpoint?
We see the concept of counterpoint in many contexts, from classical music composition to jazz improvisation.
What is the definition of counterpoint?
- 16.3k
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Retrograde and Inverted songs
I am looking for retrograde and inverted remakes of classical pieces. Even better if they are being played simultaneously with the origina, like Pachelbel's Canon, Original Version and Retrograde ...
- 179
7
votes
1
answer
243
views
Are same interval leaps consented in second species counterpoint?
I've been told that, in second species counterpoint, presenting the same interval in 2 consecutive bars is an error. What then if the intervals skips in opposite directions?
Like this:
Is this ...
- 993
6
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Meaning of "Battuta" in Counterpoint
What is Battuta and does it only apply to voice leading by
contrary motion?
For example, in treble clef, if going from "E-G" (major-tenth - that
is, the "E" is in the bass and the "G" is in ...
- 25.6k
5
votes
1
answer
709
views
Counterpoint (Fux): 3rd species, 3 voices, closing formulas
I am working my way through Gradus ad Parnassum (Mann translation). The chapter is: third species in three voices.
At page 92, I see an example (Fig. 130) that ends like this:
I cannot understand the ...
- 51
5
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is one octave above tonic also considered as tonic?
I try to learn rules of counterpoint. Yesterday I got this nice source of rules. The second rule there states:
The 7th degree must resolve to the tonic, or it can descend stepwise
if the ...
- 533
5
votes
1
answer
405
views
Hidden fifths between tenor and soprano in Tchaikovsky's "Guide to harmony"
I have been working through Tchaikovsky's "Guide to practical harmony" and found the following example quite early in the book:
I am talking about the first measure. To me it seems that soprano and ...
- 1,151
4
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Are counterpoint and harmony mutually exclusive?
I understand that harmony and counterpoint are more tools than set of rules to follow, the first works vertically, enhancing a single melody line, while the other combines multiple melody lines in a ...
- 299
4
votes
2
answers
534
views
Diatonic Function of Accidentals in Counterpoint
Why is it in counterpoint that the fourth degree of natural mode "F"
lowered to "Bb" instead of remaining as "B"?
Why isn't the fourth degree lowered for other modes? Shouldn't the "B"
remain ...
- 25.6k
3
votes
3
answers
1k
views
1st Species Counterpoint Tritone Reached Melodically by Step
I'm reading Alfred Mann's translation of Fux's Gradus (original available here). On page 35, footnote 9 (presumably Alfred Mann, certainly not the original author) says "The tritone is to be avoided ...
3
votes
1
answer
136
views
What interval sequences "defined" Fux's counterpoint?
Motivation
When Fux laid out his rules for counterpoint, he did so primarily in terms of melodic (horizontal) movements within each voice and secondarily in terms of harmonic (vertical) relationships ...
- 91.2k
3
votes
3
answers
819
views
Counterpoint without a leading tone?
In minuet in A minor by Johann Krieger, it doesn't have a major 7th going to the octave, but it has the fifth going to the tonic and the tonic playing an octave above on both notes. Is this a common ...
- 86
2
votes
2
answers
293
views
Can you leap to a 4th on weak beats in 3rd species counterpoint
I am doing a 3rd species 4:1 counterpoint exercise and I was told that on weakbeats you could use consonant or dissonant intervals. If the intervals on the weakbeats are consonant then the melody can ...
user35708
2
votes
2
answers
708
views
How to think about this moment from BWV 816
I've been tasked by a textbook I'm going through to make a harmonic analysis of the G major "Gavotte" from BWV816, "The French Suite" specifically minding a handful of questions ...
- 341
1
vote
3
answers
242
views
Can you remove harmony from counterpoint?
For example, two melodies at once but one melody is only on the on beats while the other is only on the off beats, does this remove the harmony from counterpoint?
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
775
views
How to differentiate countermelody from arpeggiated accompaniment?
I wonder what would be the main difference between arpeggiated accompaniment and counter melody.
Could it be the rule that an arpeggiated accompaniment would be more repetitive (because it consists ...
- 371