Getting Started withGetting Started withCounterpoint ComposerCounterpoint Composer

James L. WeaverDeveloper / Evangelist

Twitter: @JavaFXpertEmail: jweaver@pivotal.iohttp://JavaFXpert.comhttp://CulturedEar.com

http://CounterpointComposer.com

About the PresenterAbout the PresenterAuthor of several Java/JavaFX/RaspPi booksAuthor of several Java/JavaFX/RaspPi books

Java Champion, JavaOne Rockstar, plays well with others, etc. :-)

Have been speaking Italiano for many yearsHave been speaking Italiano for many years(since taking music lessons as a child)(since taking music lessons as a child)

pianississimo

fermata

pianissimopiano

tenuto

tremolo

crescendo

diminuendo

mezzo forte

segno

coda

staccato

What is counterpoint?What is counterpoint?"The relationship between voices that"The relationship between voices thatare are interdependentinterdependent harmonically yet harmonically yetindependentindependent in rhythm and contour" in rhythm and contour"

Tip: For a gentle introduction to counterpoint, check outthe Species Counterpoint article by Nicholas H. Tollervey

Counterpoint exampleCounterpoint example

Listen for Listen for interdependentinterdependent harmonies and harmonies andindependentindependent rhythms & contour rhythms & contour

Giovanni PalestrinaGiovanni Palestrina

Text

Italian Renaissance composer of sacred music

Created Palestrina-style counterpointBest known 16th-century representative of the RomanSchool of musical compositionInfluenced music of composers such as JohannSebastian Bach

Johann Joseph FuxJohann Joseph Fux

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Codified Palestrina's techniques in the 1700s, calling itspecies-counterpoint, mainly for teaching students.

Published in Gradus ad ParnassumDescribe valid pitch and rhythmic relationshipsbetween notesInfluenced music of Hayden, Mozart and Beethoven

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" cantus firmus"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" cantus firmusThis will be our main melody

Brilla brilla una stellina, su nel cielo piccolina

Let's jump right in with a demo in which CounterpointCreator writes counterpoint for a simple melody

Demo: Create counterpoint (first-species) forDemo: Create counterpoint (first-species) forTwinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle Twinkle Little Star

Now let's review theNow let's review thesteps from the demosteps from the demo

"Twinkle" cantus firmus including initial chord"Twinkle" cantus firmus including initial chordInitial chord contains number of voices and their starting notes

To enter these notes into the staff:

1. Click the Clear menu item to clear the staff2. Click the piano icon to reveal the piano keyboard:3. Click in the staff to give it focus:4. While pressing the shift-key, click each of the notes

in the initial chord5. Release the shift key and click the remaining notes

Twinkle first-species counterpointTwinkle first-species counterpointCantus firmus is automatically converted to wholenotes, and melodies are placed on separate staves

To achieve similar results, in the menubar:

1. Verify that First species is selected 2. Verify that Ionian mode is selected3. Click the Compose menu item

Clicking the Listen button will play the composition:

To learn more about first-speciesTo learn more about first-speciescounterpoint, check out:counterpoint, check out:

For pointers on composing aFor pointers on composing acantus firmus, check out:cantus firmus, check out:

(Wikipedia) (Open Music Theory)

Counterpoint, First speciesComposing a first-species counterpoint

(Open Music Theory)Composing a cantus firmus

Twinkle second-species counterpointTwinkle second-species counterpointSecond species contains half-notes in counter-melodies

To achieve similar results, in the menubar:

1. Select Second species 2. Verify that Ionian mode is selected3. Click the Compose menu item

Demo: Create second-species counterpoint forDemo: Create second-species counterpoint forTwinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle Twinkle Little Star

To learn more about second-To learn more about second-species counterpoint, check out:species counterpoint, check out:

(Wikipedia) (Open Music Theory)

Counterpoint, Second speciesComposing a second-species counterpoint

Twinkle third-species counterpointTwinkle third-species counterpointThird species contains quarter-notes in counter-melodies

To achieve similar results, in the menubar:

1. Select Third species 2. Verify that Ionian mode is selected3. Click the Compose menu item

Demo: Creating third-species counterpoint forDemo: Creating third-species counterpoint forTwinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle Twinkle Little Star

To learn more about third-To learn more about third-species counterpoint, check out:species counterpoint, check out:

(Wikipedia) (Open Music Theory)

Counterpoint, Third speciesComposing a third-species counterpoint

Twinkle fourth-species counterpointTwinkle fourth-species counterpointFourth species contains sustained half-notes in counter-melodies

To achieve similar results, in the menubar:

1. Select Fourth species 2. Verify that Ionian mode is selected3. Click the Compose menu item

Demo: Creating fourth-species counterpoint forDemo: Creating fourth-species counterpoint forTwinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle Twinkle Little Star

To learn more about fourth-To learn more about fourth-species counterpoint, check out:species counterpoint, check out:

(Wikipedia) (Open Music Theory)

Counterpoint, Fourth speciesComposing a fourth-species counterpoint

Twinkle fifth-species counterpointTwinkle fifth-species counterpointFifth species combines first through fourth + eighth notes & rests

To achieve similar results, in the menubar:

1. Select Fifth species 2. Verify that Ionian mode is selected3. Click the Compose menu item

Demo: Fifth-species counterpoint forDemo: Fifth-species counterpoint forTwinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle Twinkle Little Star

To learn more about fifth-speciesTo learn more about fifth-speciescounterpoint, check out:counterpoint, check out:

(Wikipedia)Counterpoint, Fifth species

Exploring ModesExploring ModesUsing the mode selectorUsing the mode selector

Composing in Dorian modeComposing in Dorian modeStart/end the cantus firmus with a D note and select Dorian mode

The same idea holds true for all modes:Mode Start/end note

Ionian C

Dorian D

Phrygian E

Lydian F

Mixolydian G

Aeolian A

Locrian B

Demo: Composing counterpointDemo: Composing counterpoint in Dorian mode in Dorian mode

Changing the RulesChanging the RulesExamine the counterpoint rulesExamine the counterpoint rules

and results of altering themand results of altering them

Modifying counterpoint rulesModifying counterpoint rules

There are 70+ counterpoint rules, categorized by importance, thatmay be toggled to see their effect on the counter-melodies

Toggling a counterpoint ruleToggling a counterpoint rule

One such rule is to avoid unisons in two-part counterpoint. Here we've toggled it so that the rule is not in effect.

The effects of disabling the The effects of disabling the avoid unisonsavoid unisons rule rule

Here is our most recent composition before disabling the rule:

Here is the composition after disabling the "avoid unisons" rule:

Note that the final measure now contains D notes in unison,and that most of Melody 2 has changed as a result.

Demo: Toggling a counterpoint rule,Demo: Toggling a counterpoint rule,and its effect on a counter-melodyand its effect on a counter-melody

Getting Started withGetting Started withCounterpoint ComposerCounterpoint Composer

James L. WeaverDeveloper / EvangelistPivotal Software

Twitter: @JavaFXpertEmail: jweaver@pivotal.iohttp://JavaFXpert.comhttp://CulturedEar.com

http://CounterpointComposer.com

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