Here we go, the last lesson before you've completed the Easy Piano Basics lesson series! Keep in mind that you can always check back for more lessons and additions. Lesson 10 will give you a crashcourse in the rules of species one counterpoint. Another term for this is voice leading. Although that may sound scary it's actually not as difficult as it seems. Species one counterpoint is note-against-note harmony. It consists of two lines, the first of which is called the Cantus Firmus. The second line which creates harmony against it is called the counterpoint. Species one counterpoint was widely used during the 16th century. The techniques for this complex style of writing music are detailed in the book Gradus ad Parnassum by J.J. Fux. A well-written cantus firmus is step-wise motion with an ascent to climax and then a descent. The rules for writing the counterpoint are quite complex. The first rule stipulates that the first note must be either an octave, unison, or perfect fifth above the cantus firmus. If the counterpoint is to be written below the cantus firmus, it make either an octave or unison. Only intervals of consonance are written in first species counterpoint; remember that a fourth is considered a disonance and therefore cannot be used. Another rule deals with motions. This lesson will examine the different kinds of motion. I suggest reading these rules either straight from Fux or from a recommended theory book . The different styles of motion are shown in the chart below.
Parallel
Both voices move in the same direction in the same interval
Similar
Both voices move in the same direction in different intervals
Oblique
One voices moves while the other remains on the same note
Contrary
Voices move in opposite directions
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