First species counterpoint exercises

The first note and the last note must form either an octave or unison with the cantus firmus. Class notes for counterpoint carnegie mellon university. Mar 07, 2012 now, for counterpoint, i would strongly suggest preliminary exercises in counterpoint by arnold schoenberg, which you can either download in pdf for free, or make a secondhand purchase it is now out of print. Notes in all parts are sounded simultaneously, and move against each other simultaneously. In first species there is no dissonance, so the only harmonic intervals allowed are the thirds, sixths, fifth, and octave and, when in 3 parts or more, the fourth if. Both voices, counterpoint and cantus firmus, should move mostly by step with a few leaps, and. Summary of rules for species counterpointsummary of rules. First species counterpoint is typically approached in very strictly controlled exercises called species.

Species counterpoint is a method used for centuries to teach students how to compose the sort of counterpoint found in the works of palestrina. In the first species the student is required to write one note for each note of the. Species counterpoint is not intended to teach any given style of music. It is an extremely valuable skill for a musician to study historical evidence shows that haydn, mozart, and beethoven all.

The only way to learn counterpoint is to do the exercises if you are unsure of whether you are doing the right thing or not if you like you can send me some pdfs or sibelius files if you do them on that of your exercises and i will be happy to have a look at them. Counterpoint is the mediation of two or more musical lines into a meaningful and pleasing whole. Our first step to writing a twovoice composition involves writing another whole note line against one provided for you. In second species counterpoint, you will write two notes for every note in the cantus firmus, except for the last note. Feb 12, 20 species counterpoint examples of all five species byron weigel music theory. The first species of counterpoint is the most simple, being that of one note placed against one note that is, if the cantus fimus is quarter notes, the counterpoint will also be in quarter notes. In the second species, two halfnotes of counterpoint are set against each wholenote of the c.

In all species of counterpoint, use contrary motion frequently to emphasize the independence of voices. However, because a first species counterpoint had so few notes, in order to maintain smoothness in other aspects of the exercise, the melody frequently employed small leaps. Two notes are written in the counterpoint to one of the cantus firmus, except in the last measure. Music theory for nonmusic majors ii first species counterpoint. So, even though a great contrapuntal composer like bach writes lines that are rhythmically independent, like so. In the last measure but one the first species may sometimes be used. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The very first two examples you can see fux begins with a repeated a in the counterpoint 5th to 3rd in the first p. Species counterpoint is the traditional method for learning how to write contrapuntal music the species counterpoint method dates back several hundred years, but its still taught in universities and music schools across the world today, because of its simplified, stepbystep approach. The voices are rhythmically identical, but aim for independence in their melodic lines. Traditionally these exercises are performed using whole notes, like this exercise in two parts. Summary of rules for species counterpointsummary of rules for.

Both voices, counterpoint and cantus firmus, should move mostly by step with a few leaps, and should be as natural and effortless to sing as possible. Throughout this class, ill be providing you with many worksheets for you to practice the concepts on. Note that for first species, especially when the cantus firmus is not a long one, octave leaps should be used most sparingly and judiciously. The first species of counterpoint involves writing a new melody above or below. Fuxdidnotinanywayinventcounterpoint or its teaching. Having studied the techniques for writing a monophonic whole note line, we now progress into actual counterpoint. First species counterpoint having studied the techniques for writing a monophonic whole note line, we now progress into actual counterpoint. Website exercises 1 chapter 2 harnessing space and time.

The following guidelines apply specifically to first species, but will also be relevant to later species. Species counterpoint is dealt with in the first part of the book, where fux defines five species, each of which is concerned with combining two or more voices subject to a welldefined set of rhythmic and harmonic constraints. Thus, when writing a counterpoint above a cantus firmus, the first note of the counterpoint should be do or sol a p1, p5, or p8 above the cantus. Counterpointfirst species wikibooks, open books for an. The task in the first species of counterpoint is to construct an added voice also called simply a counterpoint either above upper counterpoint or below lower counterpoint the cantus firmus c. You have probably had to harmonise bach chorales as part of your studies, and. Complete the countermelody for the given melody using the rules of first species counterpoint. First species counterpoint complete the countermelody for the given melody using the rules of first species counterpoint. First species counterpoint question january 07, 2016 08. The final note of the counterpoint must always be do. In the first species, exactly one note of counterpoint is set against each note of the c. I believe this is the best, the most useful counterpoint book a composer can read, written by a prominent selftaught composer. This video explains the basics of first species counterpoint.

The p1 is never permitted in the middle of the exercise, since this would create. An even briefer guide to how species counterpoint affects analysis can be found here. Species counterpoint examples of all five species byron weigel music theory. Learning counterpoint on your own art of composing. Use them as examples when you write your exercises for class assignments. First species counterpoint consists of a whole note set against each note of the cantus firmus.

First species counterpoint music theory for the 21stcentury. In the third species, does the first note of each bar need to be consonant or dissonant with the cantus firmus. In first species counterpoint, you simply add a melody above or below a given. The complete guide to counterpoint giorgio signorile.

Species counterpoint exercises from fuxs gradus ad. Consonant, duh what are the conditions for having dissonance in the second, third, or fourth beats of a measure in the third species. First species counterpoint in first species exercises youll write notetonote polyphony. However, because a firstspecies counterpoint had so few notes, in order to maintain smoothness in other aspects of the exercise, the melody frequently employed small leaps.

For all the exercises, we will work with the traditional cantus firmi that have been. Species counterpoint exercises from fuxs gradus ad parnassum 1 introduction this workbook supplements alfred mann s the study of counterpoint from johann joseph fuxs gradus ad parnassum. Since all notes in first species counterpoint are whole notes, rhythmic independence is not available. In the first species, note durations are irrelevant.

New material constructing noteagainstnote, consonantonly, counterpoint. The list of counterpoint rules is shown at the bottom. If you choose an octave for the first note, the last note must be. You will be writing mostly halfnotes in second species. It is in no way a substitute for reading and working through the actual text book. Species counterpoint exercises involve following similar rules but in a slightly. William gardner schottstaedt for expressing the rules of species counterpoint in the sail, and then c, programming languages in the 1980s. The counterpoint line beginning a firstspecies counterpoint. The first six chapters of the handbook have writing exercises. Like the cantus firmus, the counterpoint should have a single climax. The first species of counterpoint is the most simple, being that of one note placed against one note that is, if the cantus fimus is quarter notes, the counterpoint will also be in quarter notes there are two ultimate rules of counterpoint that should be observed in first species counterpoint and are almost never broken in any counterpoint with two voices. First species note against note in this species every note of the part added by the student must be consonant with the cantus firmus consonance and dissonance are explained here. Markand thakar takes the reader step by step through the composition and performance of the counterpoint species, from unaccompanied lines to complex threepart exercises. And the problem with counterpoint exercises is rarely are they based on or do they produce real music.

In counterpoint for two voices, the task is to write a fitting countermelody the counterpoint for a given melody the cantus firmus. Species counterpoint part 1 cantus firmus duration. In first species, the counterpoint moves in the same rhythm as the cantus firmus, resulting in noteagainstnote counterpoint. In first species counterpoint, each note in every added part parts being also referred to as lines or voices sounds against one note in the cantus firmus. Music 231 first species counterpoint, two parts these notes are a distillation with supplements and editorials, in red of salzterschacters counterpoint in composition. Species counterpoint exercises from fuxs gradus ad parnassum. Apr 19, 2012 species counterpoint is a type of so called strict counterpoint, developed as a pedagogical tool, in which a student progresses through several species of increasing complexity, always working a very plain given part in the cantus firmus latin for fixed melody. The cantus firmus can be in the bottom, middle, or top voice, with the other first species voices filling the other roles. Beginning a firstspecies counterpoint to exemplify goaloriented motion, the firstspecies exercise should begin and end with the most stable of sonorities.

Complete the counter melody for the given melody using the rules of first species counterpoint. To exemplify goaloriented motion, the firstspecies exercise should begin and end with the most stable of sonorities. Species counterpoint examples of all five species youtube. What follows are examples of first, second and fourth species counterpoint. The main advantages to the species approach, especially for beginners, are. By eliminating explicit variety of rhythm in the first four species, and by. The goal of species counterpoint is fluency and sensitivity to line and to dissonance. The only way to learn counterpoint is to do the exercises if you are unsure of whether. The student is introduced to counterpoint in five stages. Website exercises chapter 2 harnessing space and time. I make a special note of this, because in even though in three part counterpoint one tends to focus more on the vertical aspect, it should be strongly emphasised that the horizontal component is the. In first species counterpoint, we not only write a smooth melody that has its own integrity of shape, variety, and goaldirected motion, but we also write a second melody that contains these traits. In first species there is no dissonance, so the only harmonic intervals allowed are the thirds, sixths, fifth, and octave and, when in 3 parts or more, the fourth if its lower tone is not the bass. The first species of counterpoint involves writing a new melody above or below the cantus firmus, with one note in the counterpoint for every note of the cantus firmus.

Nevertheless, his species approach was pedagogically groundbreaking 1you may remember from biology that species is the most speci. In second species, the increase in notes and the added freedom involving the use of dissonance makes it easier to move by step without causing other musical problems. This example defines twovoice first species counterpoint as explained by j. In this book a conductor uses counterpoint exercises to aid musicians in becoming sensitive to the fundamental ingredients of good music making. What follows are examples of first, second and fourth species counterpoint, based on the these cantus firmi. Consider rhythm, melodic behavior, and harmonic behavior the intervals created by the two parts together. In general, the longer the cantus firmus, the easier it is to incorporate a large melodic leap in the counterpoint without disrupting the melodic flow the highest and lowest points in your counterpoint should in general not coincide with those of the. Counterpoint complete, and it finishes what would be the first semester of a college music theory class. Reproduces some of the examples from fuxs gradus ad parnassum, without his exemplar counterpoints.

Repetition of a note in any but the first species is forbidden. In first species exercises youll write notetonote polyphony. There are two ultimate rules of counterpoint that should be observed in first species counterpoint and are almost never broken in any counterpoint. It includes a comprehensive set of blank staves associated with each of the six cantus rmi that aloysius, the master teacher, o ers young josephus. In all your species counterpoint writing, always write in the interval number between the notes, so that you are assured of having perfect and imperfect intervals. Species counterpoint is the traditional method for learning how to write contrapuntal music. Fux method does have pedagogical value, but its advantages are best understood independently of stylistic issues. Nov 27, 2002 the cantus firmus can be in the bottom, middle, or top voice, with the other first species voices filling the other roles. David koelle for adding chord analysis faclities to his.

For two part exercises, the student is required to invent a melody above or below a cantus firmus cf. Introduction to melody and twovoice counterpoint exercise 1. All species exercises must begin with a p5 or p8 and end with a p8 or unison. This is a new drill added in january 2019, so there may be a few bugs. Counterpoint is typically approached in very strictly controlled exercises called. Composing a firstspecies counterpoint open music theory. William gardner schottstaedt for expressing the rules of species counterpoint in the sail, and then.