740-141 Music Techniques 1-1

(for non-BMus students) Faculty Musicianship Test or permission of coordinator

An introduction to the elements and processes of voice leading during the period of triadic tonality through the study of species counterpoint. Students will be expected to have attained a sound understanding of the elements and processes of voice leading within the Western musical tradition, and be able to write and sing fluent three-part contrapuntal textures, demonstrating their understanding of voice leading within species counterpoint. The subject will commence with students learning to write and sing 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 species counterpoint is used as the basis for free prolonged counterpoint.) Students will also develop an awareness of counterpoint in composition through a close study of the thematic material of set works from the Western canon.

On completion of this subject, students will be able to compose a coherent contrapuntal texture in two or three parts and solve common voice-leading problems • identify contrapuntal principles in a variety of tonal styles • analyse basic melodic lines using Schenkerian stem and slur notation.

Weekly music notation assignments including an analysis assignment (50%): two-hour end-of-semester examination (40%); aural tests held mid and end of semester (10%).

A pass must be obtained in each section of the assessment to pass the subject.

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