Questions tagged [counterpoint]
Questions relating to the uses, history, types, or analysis of counterpoint.
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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 ...
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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?
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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)?
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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....
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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 ...
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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 ...
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