Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [counterpoint]

Questions relating to the uses, history, types, or analysis of counterpoint.

Counterpoint is the relationship between voices that are harmonically interdependent, but independent in rhythm and contour. It is a widely used technique that is frequently used in classical music.

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Why does species counterpoint not consider harmonic function?

From what I understand, harmonic function came later but since most modern harmony textbooks teach harmony using functional harmony, shouldnt species counterpoint also be adapted to include harmonic function? If I write a bassline as a cantus…
user35708
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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 that triads are something that sound good and it is…
Roman
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Rules for building cantus firmus in Fux

I am currently working through "Gradus ad Parnassum" in its english translation (Alfred Mann). In chapter One "Note against Note" (p. 27) I encounter "Principles for the forming of the melodies are discussed later". I have actually read through…
NickQuant
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How exactly is climax defined?

I am learning rules of counterpoints using this source. One of the rules there states: The CF must have a unique culmination (climax). I would like to be sure that I understand climax properly. Does it only mean that there should be only one…
Roman
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How to apply counterpoint to my own compositions?

I recently learned the five species of counterpoint, but feel like I am not grasping the significance of counterpoint in music. I get the feeling these principles may be used to write a bass line for something like a metal song or J-pop song, but…
reincarnationofstackexchange
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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 preceding note is the tonic. I want to be sure that I…
Roman
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consonant skips in 2nd species counterpoint

From The Complete Musician by Laitz Consonant skips are motions by a third. Well, I think we have a confusion here because by saying 'consonant' I suppose Laitz implied that both vertically and horizontally consonant; in other words, both the…
user88063
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At what point does one use fugue in the Gloria of the Mass Ordinary?

In setting the Mass Ordinary, what are the words that should be set in a fugue? "Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris" or just "in gloria Dei Patris"? That's to say, is the entire Cum Sancto Spiritu set fugally, or just when the words "in gloria…
David R.
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How to best understand first species counterpoint/counterpoint in general?

I'm diving into counterpoint because I want to have a better understanding of diatonic/ tonal harmony. I figured that counterpoint would be a good place to start and so far it does seem promising. My only issue is that everywhere I read just lists…
YoungCapone
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4th Species Counterpoint in Triple Time

I'm experiencing a lack of clarity on this. Now, understanding 4th species in duple time is a matter of understanding Fux's text and seeing it in actual use. In 4/4 for example, it is easy to see the strong beat / weak beat relationships between…
William Egert
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Another Counterpoint Dissonance Handling Question... Species Counterpoint

I am harmonizing a Mozart soprano melody with a musical friend. Now, I could scour the internet for a week trying to figure this out, but I figured I would instead ask the music.stackexchange Gods first to greater effect. I am having trouble…
William Egert
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Resolving chordal 7th, Counterpoint question

This is the second episode of a fugue I have completed. Here is the link to the full thing: https://musescore.com/williamjegertiii/g-major-fugue-adagietto-synth-and-beat At any rate, I've been reviewing it and there is a musical problem that I…
William Egert
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What variation of the minor scales should I use for tonal species counterpoint?

I just started learning about species counterpoint, and I thought one should only use (for both cantus firmus and counterpoint) the natural keys of the scale (diatonic) until I saw this G minor example: So my question is, when to change to harmonic…
mgblc
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Why isn't a P4 allowed on the upbeat in second species counterpoint?

You are supposedly only allowed to enter and leave a dissonance by step in species counterpoint and use consonant skips on the upbeat. however, in any triad an arpeggiation would very frequently produce a P4. In fact, trying to skip to a P5 many…
user35708
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Are consonant skips allowed below and above the notes of resolution of a suspension in 5th species counterpoint?

In my textbook and most places I could find online it shows consonant skips as a way to decorate suspensions in 5th species counterpoint. The consonant skip always happens below the suspended note. Can a skip like this be used above as well?
user35708
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