740-141 Music Techniques 1-1

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

(for non-BMus students) Faculty Musicianship Test or 740-139 Discovering Music 2

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Students will be expected to have a attained a sound understanding of the elements and processes of voice leading within the Western musical tradition; and to be able to recognise and write fluent three-part contrapuntal textures, demonstrating their understanding of voice leading within species counterpoint.

An introduction to the elements and processes of voice leading, prevalent particularly during the period of triadic tonality (circa 1450-1900), which form an underlying basis to the works of many stylistic genres and composers within the Western musical tradition, through the study of species counterpoint. Students will commence the course by writing single melodic lines, cantus firmi, and progress through the writing of first, second, third, fourth and fifth species counterpoint in both two and three part textures. (This topic continues in Music Techniques 2 where strict species counterpoint is used as the basis for free prolonged counterpoint).

Contrapuntal techniques will be introduced in successive lectures, and the course will unfold in an accumulative manner.

Assessment

Weekly written assignments (50%); 2-hour end-of-semester examination (40%); listening test (10%).

Recommended Texts

• Carl Schachter and Felix Salzer, Counterpoint in Composition. 2nd ed., Columbia University Press, 1989.