Music 120A:

Second-Year Theory: Tonal Counterpoint

Fall, 2001

Required books:

Bach, J.S., Keyboard Music, (Dover Publ.).

Bach, J.S., Organ Music, (Dover Publ.).

Brings et al., A New Approach to Keyboard Harmony, (W.W. Norton & Co.).

Mozart, W.A., The Marriage of Figaro, (G. Schirmer).

Almost all sightsinging (SS) will come from this score, except for a few melodies from Brings with figured bass accompaniment. ALL sightsinging is to be performed in fixed-Do solfege: NO exceptions.
Rhythmic dictation drill will be the TA's choice.
  • Tuesday, 9/25: Preview.
    An extensive introduction to the various types of compositions to be studied in the course and general view of contrapuntal devices.
    Bach's cantatas as catalogue of his techniques.
    COmparison of movements 1,2,5,8 of Cantata BWV 80, Ein Feste Burg ist Unser Gott.
  • Wednesday, 9/26: review of musicianship.
    Class will be broken into keyboard groups of two levels. KB assignments will be designated Group I or II (keyboardists).
  • Thursday, 9/27:Preview, continued.
    Extensive listening of works in the Baroque repertoire.
    Three chorales from the motet, Jesu meine Freude and a keyboard treatment of the same chorale tune from the Wilhelm Friedemann Bach collection.
    Read Brings, Chapter 7 on the notation of figured bass.
  • M, 10/1: SS, Mozart, PP. 343-347 (both parts).
    Drill in harmonic progressions I-V, I-vi, I-IV-V, ii6-V, V-vi in all major and minor keys.
  • T, 10/2: tonal organization of the style.
    Begin study of figuration in a chorale prelude (Orgelbüchlein, BWV 599, 600, 601, with corresponding choral harmonizations (handout).
  • W, 10/3:SS, Mozart, PP. 140-144.
    KB: (for I and II) Brings, Exercises 7-1 and 7-3 (PP. 82-83).
    These are chorale harmonizations, and both lines are played.
  • Th, 10/4: Chorale prelude.
    Creating moving inner voices.
    Pass in assignment 1. (Brings P. 86, complete harmonization of chorale, Ex. 7-11).
  • M, 10/8: SS, Mozart recit. PP. 389-393.
    Drill use of diminished sevenths as cadential substitutes.
  • T, 10/9: Two-part invention subjects.
    harmonic orientation and use in exposition.
  • W, 10/10: SS, Mozart duet, PP. 14-21 (both parts).
    KB: Brings, Exs. 7-6 (for group I), 7-7 (for Group II), (P. 84)
  • Th, 10/11: Invention exposition
    Entrance of voices and relationship with next apearance of subject in new key.
  • M, 10/15:SS, Mozart at sight (TA's choice of famous arias).
  • T, 10/16: Pass in assignment 2. (a treatment of the harmonized chorale with two moving inner voices).
    Voices should move in sixteenth notes.
  • W, 10/17:SS Brings, Exs. 7- a,b,c melodies. TA to realize fig. bass in absence of group (e.g. b and c for group I and a for group II).
    KB: Brings, Exs. 7-16a. (for group I), 7-16 b and c (for group II).
    In a recitative or any other vocal or instrumental accompaniment, play ONLY the bass with a figured bass realization, not the melody. Accompaniment may be two parts with occasional three or four at cadences and phrase endings.
  • Th, 10/18: Pass in assignment 3. (three two-part invention subjects).
    Modulating sequences and use of invertible counterpoint in exposition and subsequent treatment of the subject in new key.
  • M, 10/22: SS, Mozart, Recit. PP. 33-37.
    Drill altered chords, like augmented sixth and diminished chords as auxiliaries. Drill rhythmic dictation.
  • T, 10/23: Key schemes.
    Sequence of keys used in inventions: proportion in these works.
  • W, 10/24:SS Brings, Exs. 7-17 and 7-18, (PP. 90-91) melodies.
    KB: Brings 7-17 for group I and 7-18 for group II.
  • Th, 10/25: Pass in assignment 4. (a complete two-part exposition).
    Discussion of augmentations and diminution.
  • M, 10/29:SS, Mozart at sight (TA's choice of famous arias and ensembles).
    Drill on rhythmic dictation.
  • T, 10/30: Concepts of stretto, reprise, and pedal point.
    How these devices affect the structure of the piece.
  • W, 10/21:Dictation Midterm
    Harmonic dictation of sequences, cadences, and modulations to V and relative minor.
  • Th, 11/1:Individual Midterm.
    Figured Bass, keyboard harmony, sightsinging will be tested.
    TA will assign figured bass one week in advance for preparation.
  • M, 11/5:SS, choral singing at sight from Mozart (TA choice).
    Prepare SS Mozart recit. PP. 128-133.
  • T, 11/6: Use of contrapuntal devices in other types of Baroque pieces.
    Dance forms.
  • W, 11/7:SS Brings, Exs. 7-22 and 7-23 melodies (including oboe part in 7-23).
    KB: Brings, Ex. 7-22 for group I and 7-23 for group II, (PP. 94-97).
  • Th, 11/8: Pass in assignment 5. (two-part invention to first modulation)
    Drill on modulating sequences.
  • M, 11/12:SS, Mozart. PP. 190-198 (both parts).
    TA will dril Mozart PP. 208-216 as a group.
  • T, 11/13:The reprise.
    Comparisons with two-part, three-part, and fugue.
  • W, 11/14:SS: Brings, melody of 7-24 (TA to realize figured bass).
    KB: Brings, 7-27 for group I and 7-25 and 7-26 for group II (PP. 99-101).
  • Th, 11/15: Pass in assignment 6. (two-part invention to second key area).
    Begin discussion of 3 and 4 part counterpoint.
    For extra credit, students may try to complete a whole invention.
  • M, 11/19:Drill harmonic sequences from figuration.
    TA whould use examples from Bach Keyboard Works.
  • T, 11/20: The three-part invention.
    Study of subjects and exposition.
  • W, 11/21: Drill composite rhythm from Mozart ensembles (TA choice).
    KB: Brings, 7-28 for groups I and II. Group II will also do unfgured bass, 7-29 (P. 103).
  • Th, 11/22: Pass in assignment 7. (two three-part invention subjects).

  • M, 11/26:SS, Mozart, PP. 403-409.
    Drill rhythmic dictation.
  • T, 11/27: Three-part invertible counterpoint.
    Bach's F Minor Sinfonia.
  • W, 11/28:SS, Brings 7-32 melody and at-sight materials provided by TA.
    KB: Brings, 7-32, unfigured bass for groups I and II (students may write in cues).
  • Th, 11/29: Thanksgiving.
    Holiday
  • M, 12/3:SS, sing at sight from Mozart (TA's choice).
    Drill composite rhythmic dictation.
  • T, 12/4: Invention and fugue, comparison.
    Works from WTC I and II.
    Pass in assignment 8. (a three-part invention exposition).
  • W, 12/5: SS review (TA's choice)
    TA will assign SS and KB for the final examination.
  • Th, 12/6: Three-part invention expositon due.
    Continue invention and fugue comparison.

  • Notes:

    1. All assignments must be passed in on time: each class day late will cost one-third a letter grade.

    2. Assignments may be passed in early for special consideration, that is, they will be corrected without a grade recorded and may be resubmitted with errors corrected.

    3. Reale may be reached at his office hour (Th 12-1), at the private phone number (until 8 PM), or by e mail p_reale@minotaurz.com.

    4. Syllabi and supplementary materials always available at the website:

    http://www.minotaurz.com/minotaur under Educational Resources.

    Updated: October 1, 2001.