Concepts of Music

How to Write Fourth Species Counterpoint: A Comprehensive Guide

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Fourth Species Counterpoint is a type of music composition that focuses on creating counterpoint through suspension and syncopation, which means that notes are ideally held over from one beat to the next, creating a feeling of tension and release. Fourth species counterpoint is arguably the most complex species compared to the previous types of counterpoint […]

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Starting to Compose With Counterpoint: Guide to Writing Combined 1st and 2nd Species Counterpoints

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Combining 1st and 2nd species counterpoint is where we truly start to unlock counterpoint’s potential as a tool for enhancing our composition skills. At this stage, we move beyond simple exercises and begin to engage in real composition. In 1st and 2nd species, or any species up to florid (5th species) counterpoint, we aren’t fully

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How to Write Third Species Counterpoint: A Comprehensive Guide

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Continuing from the foundational work in first and second species, third species counterpoint introduces a more intricate rhythmic structure by pairing four notes in the counterpoint against each note in the cantus firmus. This allows for greater melodic and harmonic development while still adhering to the strict rules that define counterpoint. Recapping First and Second

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How to Write Second Species Counterpoint: A Comprehensive Guide

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Continuing our study of species counterpoint from last week, where we looked at counterpoint in the first order / first species, this week we will look at second species counterpoint. Counterpoint is the art of combining distinct melodic lines in a harmonious manner, forming something of the backbone of Western classical music. Second Species Counterpoint,

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How to Write First Species Counterpoint: A Comprehensive Guide

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First species counterpoint, often referred to as “note against note” counterpoint, is the foundation of contrapuntal composition. It (First Species Counterpoint)  involves writing one note of counterpoint for each note in the cantus firmus (fixed melody). By mastering first species counterpoint, students build a solid understanding of melodic and harmonic principles that are essential for

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5 ways of Understanding woodwinds

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This week I was fortunate enough to stumble on a YouTube video by composer Zach Heyde. In this video he analyses the orchestration of Elgar’s Enigma Theme, also touching on the harmony where it is relevant in the voicing of the orchestration. It’s a fabulous video with many insights, especially regarding the colours that Elgar

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Creativity in Context (Teresa Amabile)

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Teresa Amabile’s book, Creativity in Context (there are no affiliate links in this article), is one of the very few texts that I can say definitively changed my thinking and approach to musical composition. Reading it was a personal, paradigm-shifting moment where I started to understand what music composition and wider studying of music meant to

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