Music 20A:

First-Year Theory: Species Counterpoint

Fall, 2000

Books:

  • Species Counterpoint Notes
    From Dr. Harold Powers and Reale, from Ragionamenti Musicali, by Angelo Berardi, 1681.
    A list of cantus firmi will also be given out. All assignments will be done using these CF's; and, in each assignment the studewnt writes one setting above the CF and one setting below. When a phrase is specified to be in invertible counterpoint at octave, the phrases wil contain the same notes above and below the CF.

  • Gauldin, Robert, A Practical Approach to Sixteenth-Century Counterpont, (Waveland Press), 1995.
  • Benjamin, Horvit, Nelson, Music for Sightsinging, (Wadsworth), 2000, 3rd. Edition (referred to as MS).
    All assignments (labelled SS) in prepared sightsinging come from this book.
  • Brings, et al, A New Approach to Keyboard Harmony, (W.W. Norton), 1979.


    • There is graded dictation at the beginning of each class: any student who misses a dictation will earn a zero, which cannot be made up. There will be seven written assignments in species counterpoint, and they are due on the days indicated. Any late assignment will be downgraded: since papers will have numbers (e.g. "0" is no mistakes and an "A") a number will be added for each class day late. Papers with the grade of "X" must be rewritten and submitted at the next class.

  • Thursday, Sept. 28: Organization of the class.
    Subsections for musicianship will be assigned and counterpoint notes will be distributed.
    TA will test keyboard skills in the second hour.

  • M, Oct. 2: Introduction.
    Using Chopin's Scherzo, Op. 31 we will discuss why theory class is essential.
    Read the rules for Species I. In class practice of Species I.
  • T, Oct. 3:
    Explanation of the fixed Do system of solfege with practice in class. Refer to Music for Sightsinging, P. ix.
    Practice preliminary exercises in rhythm (MS, PP. 2-3.) in class.
  • W, Oct. 4: Species I assignment due (CF #1).
    Read Gauldin, PP. 1-12.
  • Th, Oct.5:
    Practice major scales as solfege in class (MS, PP. 4-5).
    Prepare SS (in MS) PP. 8-9 for a grade (you are allowed to write the syllables in your book for the first three weeks).

  • M, Oct. 9: Second Species I assignment, with invertible cpt., due (CF #5).
    Read the rules for Species II.
    Read Gauldin, PP. 15-25.
  • T, Oct 10:
    Prepare SS, PP. 13-14.
    Work on rhythm in class, PP. 10-12, including duets.
  • W, Oct. ll: Discussion of the Church Modes.
    Read Gauldin, PP. 12-14 and PP. 26-35, two-voice texture.
    In class practice in Species II
  • Th, Oct 12: keyboard practice.
    Prepare Brings (A New Approach to Keyboard Harmony), P. 4. to be graded.
    Prepare SS, PP.15-20.
    Drill P. 21 in class (unprepared).

  • M, Oct. 16: More Species II practice.
    Read rules for Species III.
    Read Gauldin, PP. 36-41.
  • T, Oct. 17: Cadences.
    Prepare SS, PP. 22-24.
    Drill in class PP. 25-26 and rhythmic excercises, P. 27.
  • W, Oct. 18: Species II due.
    Read Gauldin, PP. 42-46.
    Discuss sheet on figuration types.
    Read rules for Species II and III combined.
  • Th, Oct. 19: Singing in class.
    Using motet examples from the end of Gauldin, perform some excerpts in class.
    TA will also proide two-part excerpts in the style.
    Prepare SS, PP. 28-29 (rhythmic exercises), and PP. 31and 33 for sightsinging.
    Drill PP. 30 and 32 in class, plus other rhythmic duets provided by TA.

  • M, Oct. 23: Species III practice.
    Analysis of quarter-note motion in musical examples.
  • T, Oct. 24: review harmonic intervals with drill and testing
    Prepare SS PP. 33-35. Drill in class examples and duets to P. 38.
    Prepare rhythmic exercises PP. 39-40. Drill duets, P. 41 in class.
  • W, Oct. 25 Species III assignment due (CF #3)
  • Th, Oct. 26: Begin performing two-part music in class. Drill alto clef.
    Correct errors in assignment in Gauldin, P. 47 (in class).
    prepare SS PP. 43-44. Drill examples PP. 45-47.

  • M, Oct. 30: Species II and III drill.
    Drill on the suspension dissonance.
    Read gauldin, PP. 48-53.
  • T, Oct. 31: Dictation Midterm exam.
    Also, review sightsinging at sight. Use previous assignments as review.
    Sing and play: TA will bring in two-part exercises, and students will sing one part and play another.
  • W, Nov. 1: Melodic style.
    Read rules for Species IV.
  • Th, Nov.2: sightsinging and keyboard midterm.
    students will be individually graded by professor and TA on a combination of prepared exercises, announced on the previous Tuesday.

  • M, Nov. 6: Species II and II combined assignment due (CF #9).
    Read Gauldin, PP. 55-62.
  • T, Nov. 7: drill major, minor, augmented, and diminished harmonic and melodic intervals.
    Prepare rhythmic exercises, PP. 55-56.
    Drill duets, P. 57.
    SS at sight from TA materials. They should be easier than the prepared exercises.
  • W, Nov. 8 Discussion of rhythm.
    Species V workshop in class.
  • Th, Nov. 9: Check on students' keyboard skills
    TA will bring in simple keyboard music to sight read.

  • M, Nov. 13: Species IV assignment due (CF#4).
    Comparison of imitation techniques: 16th C. vs. Webern (Op. 2)
    Review of contrapuntal principles.
  • T, Nov. 14: intensive SS drill in minor mode.
    Prepare SS, PP. 61-62. Drill PP. 58-60 in class.
  • W, Nov. 15: Read rules of Species V.
    Relationship of church modes to major and minor modes discussed.
  • Th, Nov. 16: sing and play.
    TA will bring in two-part exercises and students will sing one line and play another.
    Drill duets, PP. 66-69 in class.

  • M, Nov. 20: Species V assignment due (CF #6) (must contain invertible counterpoint).
  • T, Nov. 21: keyboard introduction to triads.
    perform in class two-voice examples from Gauldin, PP. 63-75.
    TA will discuss triad types (Brings, P. 7), and students will perform exercise 1.7 on P. 8.
  • W, Nov. 22: Individual appointments.
    Professor will see those students with counterpoint problems.
  • Th, Nov. 23: Thanksgiving holiday.

  • M, Nov. 27: Read rules of two-part counterpoint.
    Analysis of Lassus two-part Motets.
    Analysis of two-voice examples in Gauldin, PP. 63-75.
  • T, Nov. 28: Individual appointments.
    TA will see those students with serious deficiencies for individual drill.
  • W, Nov.29: Species V assignment #2 due (CF#8). Analysis, continued
    Discussion of three-part writing.
    Read Gauldin, PP. 76-86.
  • Th, Nov. 30:five and six-voice music.
    perform in class examples from Gauldin, PP. 205-233 (selection by TA).
    keyboard: prepare exercises in Brings, P. 9.

  • M, Dec. 4: Analysis of texture.
    Examples will be drawn from Palestrina, Byrd, Morley, Tallis, etc. up to 40 parts.
    Read Gauldin, PP. 87-95, cadences in three-part texture.
  • T, Dec. 5: Review of dictation.
    Intensive drill of basic principles.
  • W, Dec. 6: Review of counterpoint principles. Two-part counterpoint (from etiher Species V assignment) due. An option is an analysis paper of assigned 2-part pieces by Lassus.
    application of voice leading to music in the appropriate style.
    Read Gauldin, PP. 96-119.
    No late papers are accepted after this day.
  • Th, Dec. 7: Review of sightsinging.
    Drill of at-sight reading in preparation for the final exam, which occurs in exam week. Presently, it is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 14 from 3 PM until 6 PM. Be sure to have this time available (no exceptions).

    • This syllabus and all other materials are also available at http://www.minotaurz.com/minotaur under the heading of educational materials, subheading of syllabi.

    Students may seek help from the professor at the office hour, Thursday 2:00-3:00 PM, by e-mail (p_reale@minotaurz.com), or by phone (dedicated line available until 8PM). In advance of due date, assignments may be faxed for approval.

    Updated, Nov. 14, 2000.

    Students whould check this version for specific CF assignments..