Music theory exam: Counterpoint

[faulty_damper]

I have a theory placement exam and need to pass an exam on counterpoint.  I have the option of doing one of the following three techniques and have absolutely no idea what they mean.

1. complete an exposition on a baroque 3-part invention
2. write two lines of mixed-species counterpoint against a tonal cantus firmus (16th century style, no text)
3. how to write a single line of fifth species counterpoint against a tonal cantus firmus (18th century style, using species rules.)

Specific questions as of now are:
1. what is an exposition?
2. what is "mixed-species"?
3. what is a "tonal cantus firmus"?
4. what are "species rules"?

5. And how would I do each of the above?

An can anyone recommend a book that covers each of the above and on counterpoint in general?

[BoliverAllmon]

I have a theory placement exam and need to pass an exam on counterpoint.  I have the option of doing one of the following three techniques and have absolutely no idea what they mean.

1. complete an exposition on a baroque 3-part invention
2. write two lines of mixed-species counterpoint against a tonal cantus firmus (16th century style, no text)
3. how to write a single line of fifth species counterpoint against a tonal cantus firmus (18th century style, using species rules.)

Specific questions as of now are:
1. what is an exposition?
2. what is "mixed-species"?
3. what is a "tonal cantus firmus"?
4. what are "species rules"?

5. And how would I do each of the above?

An can anyone recommend a book that covers each of the above and on counterpoint in general?

umm...if you don't know this than you are probably in over your head. here are the answers though.

1. exposition is a certain section of the 3-part invention. If I remember correctly it is when all the voices are together and are kinda going free.
2.species of counterpoint is basically writing with any type of rhythmn you want. If they wanted only first species then the piece would be half note to half note, second is half note to 2 quarters and so on.
3.total cantus firm is a melody that has already been composed for you, you would have to write the other parts. They may give you a bass line and you would be required to write the soprano or vice versa
5. Species rules covers too much to simply write them here. You need to get a book on counterpoint. Fux wrote a good book on counterpoint. This book was used by mozart, beethoven, and many other greats as a study guide. Kent Kennan also wrote a good book on counterpoint. they wil give you the rules of counterpoint and species rules.
6. How to do this? well.....don't expect to do this next week. You need to practice this stuff. If you get the kennan book on counterpoint he also has a workbook to go with it. There would be a good way of working with it.

boliver

[janice]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterpoint

Have a look here--maybe it will steer you in the right direction!

[xvimbi]

That sounds awfully like the course TO  PASS OUT OF MUS 231 (Counterpoint) at San Francisco State University...


What Janice said, and:

https://www.contrapunctus.com/contrapunctus.htm

Cantus firmus and species: https://www.listeningarts.com/music/general_theory/species/cf.htm

[faulty_damper]

Yes, it is to pass out of it so I don't have to take it!

So do you also know how to pass out of MUS232 (Tonal Harmony), MUS233 (Chromatic harmony), and perhaps even MUS 420 (20th century techniques?)

Thanks for the links and help.

[Brian Healey]

Umm, not to rain on your parade faulty, but if you have no idea what the techniques on the exam mean, why are you trying to test out? It sounds like you need to take the class to me. The class is there for a reason.

[Bob]

Why would you want to pass out of these courses?  You learn so much about music, so many different ideas, ways of looking music, skills you can apply to pieces, new styles and composers....

Counterpoint is in just about everything.

[faulty_damper]

Why do I want to pass out?  I reason that I only have so much time to learn the things I want to learn.  And if I start learning these things right now I would be far more knowledgeable than to take a course for 5 months and learn it much more slowly (I learn some things far better and faster on my own).  And even if I do not do well, then at least I will know where my knowledge is lacking.

To clarify about the terms used, the terms are useless by themselves as they don't have any relevent meaning to me.  But when I read over the definitions I knew exactly what they were refering to.  C'mon, "species"?!  That's a term I used often in biology.

 

[Fastzuernst]

Sorry, but this is the same faulty logic used by a student I once tutored

"I don't need to go to class or turn in homework, I'll get an A on the final!"


Anyone need to know the outcome?

[Bob]

I agree that classes can move on the slow side sometimes.

But, counterpoint is a skill, and that would take time to absorb.

I don't know exactly where the term "species" came from, but I'm guessing it's fairly old -- 16th century old, if not more.  If that's true, and I'm pretty sure they were treating music more like a science, then "species" makes more sense.

  By the way, "Fux" is pronounced like "Dukes"  I think.  Anyone know the pronunciation?


Oh, and some of what you get out of the class is just learning things from the teacher.  Some things are not in a book and some useful things that have nothing to do with the class can be learned from the prof.  I wouldn't cut corners with music classes.  Why not do both?  Study on your own and take the class? 

[xvimbi]

  By the way, "Fux" is pronounced like "Dukes"  I think.  Anyone know the pronunciation?

Johann Joseph Fux. Fux is prononced as in "your good looks", i.e. "fooks"

[Brian Healey]

as in "your good looks"

Aww, shucks.

Seriously, though. I found counterpoint to be way boring at first, but once you understand it, it opens up a ton of doors in your mind and music. Once you get past the basic stuff like species counterpoint, it's really cool, but you have to have a strong understanding of the basic level. You can obviously do whatever you want, but I would strongly suggest taking the class and not trying to pass out of it if you don't already know about basic counterpoint. I think you'll only make it harder on yourself in a more advanced class, and you won't really learn the material correctly. It's like trying to learn algrebra without knowing basic addition and subtraction. Just my opinion.

[faulty_damper]

I've already been at the piano practicing counterpoint species.  The best models of these 5 species are in Bach's fugues.  And knowing the definitions of what these species are and applying them to the fougues was very easy.

The exam is really a placement exam to know what you know.  If you pass you get credit for it so you don't have to take it and you will be placed in the appropriate courses.  If not, then you just take the course and learn it.  Part of the reason that I want to pass counterpoint is to feel better about myself for not being a complete idiot on theory because my theory is very limited.  Another reason is much more compelling: I should have already graduated from college with some piece of paper that says Baccalaureate of Arts in Political Science, wihch I have no interest in and have family pressure to earn lots of money with a high paying and respectable job like Doctor or Lawyer.  God forbid it be a musician or music teacher as these occupations are not respected as they are not associated with high prestige and a high salary to go with it.  So the reason I want to do pass these placement exams is because it would help me get out of school faster.  (I would very much like to tell my parents to **** off my life and let me do what I want to do but... )

[Brian Healey]

Oh good lord, I didn't realize that there was something so deep behind this. If you want play music for a living, all you have to do is pursue it to the highest level. Heck, if you go all the way to the PhD level, then you will be a doctor! I don't know your parents, but I think they just want the best for you. They'll come around when they see that being a success doesn't necessarily correlate with a high salary. There's nothing worse than pursuing a career path that you know will make you unhappy.

[Daevren]

This means you need to study hard.

I know some books.

"The Study of Counterpoint" by J.J. Fux, translated by Alfred Mann, it has parts of the 'Gradus ad Parnassum' work.

Its the text alot of the great composers read. It is very plain, well-structured, and short.

If you want alot more examples you can get "Counterpoint in Composition" By Salzer and Schachter. It covers the same stuff, the five species in more detail. Plus it talks about using it in actual compositions, prolonged counterpoint, Schenkerian stuff. Its alot bigger, more pages and more expensive.

A species is just a set of rules in which you practice counterpoint.

The first question is explained here:

All the questions about 'species' are explained once you learn all 5 species and thus learn counterpoint.

Tonal cantus firmur means a major or minor one. I recommend doing a major one, cause its a bit easier. Back in the 16 century they used to use modes too. So it means, not using modes. A cantus firmus is a whole note melody you write counterpoint against.

I am not sure... you want to skip those lessons? If you, then that answers question six. If you want to learn this, follow those lessons. If you don't want to learn academic music theory then quit and focus on politican science or something else.

Really, skipping those lessons is not a good idea. If you want to learn to compose or learn more about music you need to practice counterpoint, even if you thing its boring. Counterpoint is everything.

Also, J.S. Bachs works aren't good examples. Because Bach breakes the rules way too often to get a good impression of the rules. For example all the fugues in WTC I and II are 'wrong fugues'. Of course they make good music. But at this point they are not good study material. They learn you how to break the rules and how to actually compose real music. You need to learn the blunt rules of species counterpoint first.

But, if you have to do this exam and you don't know the stuff you should. Pick the first one and try to bluff your way out. Make sure you have the bare essentials. Make sure it is clearly a three part counterpoint exposition. And then bluff your way through the actual counterpoint rules by claiming you broke the rules because you like it that way.

In the other two every broken rule can be considered an error, in the first there is a bit more room for discussion.

[allchopin]

Johann Joseph Fux. Fux is prononced as in "your good looks", i.e. "fooks"

Long uu, as in loops, Fux.

[mound]

An old co-worker had a PhD in music theory and composition.

he worked as a sales-guy for an IT / Multimedia company and wrote soundtrack music to a whole bunch of computer video games.   including, if I recall correctly, the "where in the world" series..

anyway.. sorry, not really relevant, but I was reminded..

-Paul

[Daevren]

Where in the world?

Maybe the game based on "War of the Worlds" or something?

[Rach3]

I recommend the Kennan book called 'Counterpoint'. Very elucid.

Btw, I personally think Counterpoint is the most difficult undergraduate theory course there is.

[jlh]

I recommend the Kennan book called 'Counterpoint'. Very elucid.

Btw, I personally think Counterpoint is the most difficult undergraduate theory course there is.

I second that!  I took 6 undergraduate theory courses and 18th Century Counterpoint was the most difficult IMHO.  All my theory courses were from the same professor (who's been teaching theory for more than 30 years), so differences in teaching style could not be a factor.

We also used the Kent Kennon book, "Counterpoint" in my class.  I think it's an excellent book and explains everything very well.  I highly recommend it, though since it's a textbook, it's pricey!  I think the current retail price is around $90.

[Inscape]

Where in the world is Carmen Sandeigo?

[timothy42b]

Can't play Dixieland without understanding counterpoint.

Dixieland IS counterpoint. 

Five people, composing counterpoint on the fly, without sheet music, in real time.  One at a time as each solos, then at the end all five playing together. 

At an intuitive level, of course, not all players could pass your exam.  But they all understand your material. 

[faulty_damper]

I took the placement exams today.  I passed out of the remedial theory portion but could not do the counterpoint portion.  I didn't spend the time to study and learn the Four Species and apply them, unfortunately, but do know what the four species are.

First Species - note against note
Second Species - 2 against 1
Third Species - 4 against 1
Fourth Species - Syncopation/ligatures.
Fifth Species - all of the above.

At the least, I also know how to pronounce "Fux", and it's not pronounced like a dirty word, even though I sometimes pronounce it that way.