CITATION — REFERENCE ENTRY
Introduction to Species Counterpoint — Open Music Theory
- Key
- gotham-shaffer-omt-species-counterpoint
- Authors
- Gotham, Mark; Shaffer, Kris
- Issued
- 2023
- Type
- chapter
- Container
- Open Music Theory
- Publisher
- VIVA Pressbooks
Raw CSL JSON
{
"URL": "https://viva.pressbooks.pub/openmusictheory/chapter/species-counterpoint/",
"type": "chapter",
"title": "Introduction to Species Counterpoint",
"author": [
{
"given": "Mark",
"family": "Gotham"
},
{
"given": "Kris",
"family": "Shaffer"
}
],
"issued": {
"date-parts": [
[
2023
]
]
},
"publisher": "VIVA Pressbooks",
"container-title": "Open Music Theory"
}
Claims
-
In species counterpoint, parallel octaves and parallel fifths are to be avoided, and students should also try to avoid direct fifths and octaves, in which two parts move in the same direction into a perfect fifth or octave.
"Make sure to avoid: parallel octaves: when two parts start an octave apart and both move in the same direction by the same interval to also end an octave apart parallel fifths: when two parts start an perfect fifth apart and both move in the same direction by the same interval to also end a perfect fifth apart Also try to avoid: direct fifths and octaves : when two parts begin any interval apart and move in the same direction to a perfect fifth or octave"
-
Species counterpoint is a step-by-step method for learning to write and combine melodies; the version taught in Open Music Theory is closely based on Johann Joseph Fux's Gradus ad Parnassum (1725), and many composers from the 18th to the 21st centuries have used the method or a variant of it. It distinguishes four types of motion between two parts: contrary, similar, parallel and oblique.
"Species counterpoint is a step-by-step method for learning to write melodies and to combine them. ... While there are many variants on this approach, the chapters here are closely based on Johann Joseph Fux's Gradus ad Parnassum ( Steps to Parnassus , 1725) . Many composers from the 18 th to the 21 st centuries have used this method, or some variation on it. ... Contrary : the two parts move in opposite directions (one up, the other down) Similar : the two parts move in the same direction (both up or both down) Parallel : the two parts move in the same direction (both up or both down) by the same distance, such that the starting and ending intervals are of the same type (e.g., parallel thirds) Oblique : one part moves, the other stays on the same pitch"
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