Hand me my feather quill!
Yup, forget the computer -- I'm going old school here.
My latest compositional challenge? Writing 8-12 short lute quartet phrases for a new medieval-themed game. To make it sound really authentic, it's requiring me to hearken back to my undergrad counterpoint classes and remember all those nit-picky species counterpoint rules -- you know, the ones you can't understand WHY they're making you learn because everyone from Pink Floyd to the Brecker Brothers to Alice in Chains uses parallel 4ths now and they sound way cool and you're NEVER going to use this fuddy-duddy counterpoint stuff again EVER...
Riiiiiiiight.
No parallel fourths, fifths, or octaves. Avoid retrogressions. I before E except after C. Always resolve your leading tones. Usually best to double the root, second, fourth, or fifth of the key you are harmonizing in. Don't eat yellow snow. Don't wipe your nose on your sleeve (I always forget that one). Moving in thirds is OK... but don't do it for too long! 2 cups to a pint, 2 pints to a quart, 4 quarts to a gallon. AND FOR THE LOVE OF THE SWEET BABY JESUS, NO TRITONES!!!!!!!!
I'm only scratching the surface here, folks. 18th century counterpoint has got more rules than beer's got bubbles. But the fact is, when that style is done right, it sounds right -- and when it's done wrong... something smells funny...
My latest compositional challenge? Writing 8-12 short lute quartet phrases for a new medieval-themed game. To make it sound really authentic, it's requiring me to hearken back to my undergrad counterpoint classes and remember all those nit-picky species counterpoint rules -- you know, the ones you can't understand WHY they're making you learn because everyone from Pink Floyd to the Brecker Brothers to Alice in Chains uses parallel 4ths now and they sound way cool and you're NEVER going to use this fuddy-duddy counterpoint stuff again EVER...
Riiiiiiiight.
No parallel fourths, fifths, or octaves. Avoid retrogressions. I before E except after C. Always resolve your leading tones. Usually best to double the root, second, fourth, or fifth of the key you are harmonizing in. Don't eat yellow snow. Don't wipe your nose on your sleeve (I always forget that one). Moving in thirds is OK... but don't do it for too long! 2 cups to a pint, 2 pints to a quart, 4 quarts to a gallon. AND FOR THE LOVE OF THE SWEET BABY JESUS, NO TRITONES!!!!!!!!
I'm only scratching the surface here, folks. 18th century counterpoint has got more rules than beer's got bubbles. But the fact is, when that style is done right, it sounds right -- and when it's done wrong... something smells funny...
3 Comments:
I managed to achieve an auspicious C+ in counterpoint. I kept breaking the rules, over and over. ugh.
"AND FOR THE LOVE OF THE SWEET BABY JESUS, NO TRITONES!!!!!!!!"
Thems the Devils notes - you use those and your a certified Devil Worshipper. ;)
-Travis-
Leading tones resolve up, yes. And sometimes to the fifth. But only when Bach does it.
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