740-264 Music Techniques 2-1

740-141 Music Techniques 1-1

Students will be expected to have a sound understanding of the elements and processes of voice leading and prolongation techniques within the Western musical tradition, and to be able to write fluent three-part contrapuntal textures and short contrapuntal compositions.

This subject is a continuation of 740-141 Music Techniques 1-1, which introduced the elements and processes of voice leading, prevalent particularly during the period of triadic tonality (circa 1450-1900).

Students will undertake the writing of instrumental textures in three parts, analyse various compositions from the Western musical tradition in which simple counterpoint has formed an underlying basis, and progress on to the writing of short contrapuntal compositions using the techniques of canon, invention and fugue.

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

On completion of the subject, students should be able to • analyse and evaluate contrapuntal textures • generate compositional material based on a variety of contrapuntal devices • identify and evaluate contrapuntal procedures in selected established repertoire.

Regular written assignments (50%); 2-hour end-of-semester examination (40%); listening test (10%). Note: apass must be obtained in each section of the assessment.

• Felix Salzer and Carl Schachter, Counterpoint in Composition. 2nd edn, Columbia University Press, 1989.
• Kent Kennan, Counterpoint. 3rd edn, Prentice-Hall, 1987.