Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Composer's Lounge Quick question about Fux counterpoint

nonsensical message deleted

Yes, but be aware of the range of the voice in which you place the counterpoint in. The counterpoint must be a "singable" melody (which is one reason for all the melodic rules), and therefore cannot go past the limits of the vocal range you place it in. The cantus firmus is in the tenor range (fits alto as well), and your current counterpoint fits nicely in the soprano range. Voice crossing can confuse the distinction of the individual voices, so use it only if it makes melodic sense to do so. Keep in mind that you're doing something musical and not simply solving a puzzle.

My harmony book lists the following ranges for theory work. Bass: the F at the bottom of the bass clef to middle C, Tenor: C an octave below middle C to G above middle C, Alto: the G where tenor ends to C an octave above middle C, Soprano: middle C to G 12 notes above that. Are these the same ranges? There were no female singers at the time as I recall.

Yes, those ranges are good. Some books may differ slightly (usually on the bass range) but those will work.

This is my last try. I was reluctant to let go of the C in brackets because it sounded so nice. I would have also liked to make the first note in m. 2 a G, but I understand that would have been a parallel movement to a consonant.

The C in brackets in acceptable (preferable, actually). The voice leading is satisfactory here. The only thing that I would call attention to is the five consecutive 3rds (m 2, beat 2 through m 3, beat 2). With this much parallel motion of the same interval class in a row, the counterpoint loses its independence for a bit. Otherwise, this is good.

Last one, I promise - 2nd measure fixed.


I thought the C was not allowed because it is an octave, which can only go at the beginning or the end (I thought). It sounded like it should go there - why is it ok?
Thanks again for all the feedback, Hermosis. I feel as though I learned a lot these last few days.

What does "voice leading" mean?

Much better. Octaves are allowed in the body of the music; it is the unison that may only be used at the beginning or end.

Voice leading refers to how the individual voices (parts) that make up harmony (chords) move in relation to each other when the harmony changes.