In Western pedagogy, counterpoint is taught through a system in which students progress through several "species" of increasing complexity.
Questions tagged [species-counterpoint]
22 questions
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Are augmented fourth allowed in second species counterpoint?
I'm trying to learn counterpoint with the help of the Gradus.
I think I've made many mistakes but I'm not sure if they're allowed or not.
At bar 62 (upbeat) you may see an augmented fourth, used as a passing tone. Dissonance is allowed if used as a…
Saturnix
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Should I avoid descending leaps of a minor 6th in species counterpoint?
A little background:
I am teaching myself species counterpoint by reading multiple texts and doing exercises. My primary text is Salzer and Schacter’s “Counterpoint in Composition,” which I really like. I’ve also found of lot of great online…
Steve Mayer
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How to avoid Battuta in this case of first species counterpoint
In this exercise on first species counterpoint, the top melody is the cantus firmus and the bottom one my counterpoint.
I am not a musician and just learned the rules. This is the second exercise from this website.
The annotation "battuta" was…
user85667
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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 ressources at my disposal like The Complete Musician (Laitz), and online ressources. Unfortunately, no one in my surroundings can help me…
Labaguette
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what was a skip according to fux and what is it in general
I wonder what a skip actually is for Fux. Because, in Gradus he says a reversal is needed after a skip but then he does something like that:
To clarify, I've no problem with how it sounds, it sounds perfect to me but felts a disappointment after…
4
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What is the order of operations for writing half notes against whole notes in three parts?
FYI, I am referencing The Study of Counterpoint (Alfred Mann's translation of Fux's Gradus ad Parnassum)
When writing in two voices, I understand the standard procedure to involve writing a counterpoint line to a given cantus firmus.
For three…
286642
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Why is the false relation of the tritone objectionable in V-IV but less so in IV-V?
In strict counterpoint, it is forbidden to have a B in one voice and then, in the very next chord, an F in another voice, or vice versa. This is called the false relation of the tritone.
George John Bennett, in his Combined and Florid Counterpoint…
Kim Fierens
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Fux's Third Species (two part) melodic movement - except for cambiata movement to and from dissonance only by step?
I'm trying to come up with my own wording to explain Fux's examples in third species, two-part counterpoint.
When I look at the examples, the more or less clearly stated rules are...
dissonances on weak beats are OK
dissonance on beat three is OK…
Michael Curtis
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the cadence in 3rd species counterpoint with 3 voices in the Phrygian mode
When the Cantus Firmus is in the 1st or 2nd voice, the bass is suppose to play the 5th note of the mode in the 2nd last bar. In the case of E Phrygian, the 5th degree is B which has however a diminished 5th (F natural) so what cadence should happen…
foxrox
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what are the options for the penultimate measure in the 3rd species counterpoint
Mr. Fux says:
Then, Mr. Fux does:
In Gradus ad Parnassum (Mann's translation).
Is the last one a mistake? There's nothing written in the book that it's a mistake.
2
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Is there something wrong with this counterpoint practice?
I've been studying 16 century counterpoint through a book myself.
I just got into 3 voice 3 species and its a little confusing.
This is a part of a 16 centrury counterpoint practice I did.
I'll like some feedback and pointers on anything "wrong" if…
Hyun Yoo Park
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How do I achieve contrary motion in second species counterpoint?
I am working on this counterpoint exercise. In 9a the second half goes down. I for the life of me can't do contrary motion without it going too high. I know I need 16th notes but there are too many. I know I need to start with the octave or unison.…
Dylan Cataldo
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Sequences in Music
I am doing second species counterpoint and this exercise gives me all the bottom notes and only the first 4 eighth notes. The exercise says:
Where a sequence occurs in the given voice, use one in the added voice as well
I believe I followed the…
Dylan Cataldo
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Second Species Counterpoint
I am working on a second species counterpoint and I am a bit stuck. This is what I have so far:
Any tips for where to go from here? The exercise I found online gave me all the notes of the CF and only the first 3 notes of the counterpoint below.
Dylan Cataldo
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Is there a rhythmic counterpart to voice leading? Is counterpoint supposed to fulfill this role?
I have been studying voice leading and I feel like rhythm is unaddressed in voice leading theory.
Here's an example of the types of voice leading rules I'm referring to:
Resolve 7->1 in a V chord in the outer voices.
Keep the notes the same if you…
Stan Shunpike
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