Lesson 3

 Counterpoint part 3

In Lesson 3 were talked about three forms of speciesin music. first, second and third species.
First species ratio form is 1:1 where each note is a whole note through out the cantus firmus. Second Species ratio is 2:1 where each note is a half note or 2 half notes in each bar. Third species ratio is 4:1 where there is each quiater note or beat in each bar. 
When reading or creating a cantus firmus you must always be constance and dissonace. 
Constance is when two notes sound good playing together and dissonance is the clash between two notes making them sound terrible.
In those kinds of music you have passing notes and neighbour. Passing notes are notes that are move stepwise and neighbour notes that move toone chord and comes back to the tonic.
Constance notes are on the accented beat and dissonace is on the unaccented.

This is an example of what a first species music would look like. In each bar there are whole notes.

This is a second species showing the hallf notes. The two half notes make up 4 counts , and with these notes there can even be a suspension when being played.

There are rules we must follow when dealing with a cantus firmus. This video gives a concept of what we should look out for when dealing with second species.

Looking at the music sheet ou can think you understnad what constance and dissonace is but there is mroe things you need to look out for when trying to mkae a cantus firmus. Watching this video helped me a little bit more in identifying those two forms.