Lesson 1 Counterpoint

 Intro to Counterpoint

This week we started to learn a a new topic which was called Counterpoint.

In music the word counterpoint means  the relationship between two or more musical lines which are harmonically interdependent yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour. In other words it means two lines or voices played harmonically together. 

In Counterpoint they also talk about Cantus Firmus. Cantus Firmus refers to a fixed melody or existing melody. 

In a cantus firmus there are rules you have to make sure you follow. 

First Species counterpoint consists of consonant intervals such as ( P1, P5, P8, M6, m6, M3, and m3). 

This photo shows an example of a cantus firmus and you can see that some of the notes are step wise motion.  They also have perfect, minor and major intervals in there. 

It shows the possible consonance intervals that the music noted can be performed. It stared out as an octave intervals and ended as an octave interval, also has a leading tone on the 6th interval. 

Here is a break down of what really is counterpoint in music. It also shows you where the voices are being played or sung in a music.

One of the great composers by the name of  Johann Sebastian Bach composed a piece by the name of  Invention No. 8 in F Major which became one of his famous pieces.

This piece of music is an example of counterpoint music played in two voices.