2-Part Counterpoint Assignment
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MUS 110 Syllabus
MUS 110 Schedule
William Wieland
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Compose a second line to accompany one of the following Christmas carol melodies:
MuseScore files:
Away in a Manger
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
Joy to the World
Follow these guidelines:
- Compose only 2-part music. (Add an alto line to the original melody.)
- Place your second part just BELOW the melody using the layers or voices feature. (Look for 1 2 3 4.)
- Begin and end with an interval which implies a tonic triad, e.g. 1 & 3, 1 & 5, 1 & 8 or 3 & 8. (See 2-Part Counterpoint Endings.)
- Write mostly 3rds, 6ths and/or 10ths between the two parts. Try not to write a harmonic interval more than 4 times in a row.
See Ihr Kinderlein, kommet and Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht.
- Use the Nearest Notes. (Compose mostly stepwise melodic motion.)
- Write NO Perfect Parallels between the parts. Favor oblique motion. ( Search "Bach kills a kitten." )
- You may write dissonances if you identify them. Use dissonances only on weak beats, only one in a row, and only stepwise. See Intervals for a list of dissonant intervals. See also Nonharmonic Tones.
- For the highest grade, carefully consider the harmonies implied by your counterpoint.
For more information, refer to one of the many fine Counterpoint Books.
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Initial Week — Before Friday at 5:00 pm, place your assignment in the D2L - Assessments - Dropbox - 2-Part Counterpoint Rough Draft.
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Over the Weekend — I will comment upon your work.
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Subsequent Week
— Before Wednesday, revise your assignment and place it in the D2L - Communications - Discuss - Compositions and Critiques - 2-Part Counterpoint Assignment.
— If time permits, compare your counterpoint to that of students who worked on the same tune.
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