Counterpoint

Objectives

• Students will be familiar with the basic tenets of contrapuntal writing.
• Students will be familiar with the conventions of common-practice period counterpoint.
• Students will be familiar with counterpoint-based forms such as canon and fugue.

Class Activities

• Discussion and definition of the general concept and characteristics of counterpoint
• Summarization of the patterns of 16th- and 18th-century counterpoint
• Discussion of definition of contrapuntal forms like canon, chorale fantasy and fugue
• Analysis of counterpoint in different types of music
• Composition and improvisation of a contrapuntal line against a given melody

Assignments

• Error detection in written counterpoint for different styles
• Writing a contrapuntal line against a given melody
• Analysis of written and recorded counterpoint