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Music 111 Theory I

Counterpoint Assignment
Theory I Counterpoint for Wednesday,
Assignment 2: DueOctober
Monday,14October 28
Write a first-species counterpoint above this cantus firmus:

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Guidelines for writing first-species counterpoint above a cantus firmus:

• The melody you write should be a good melody in and of itself; it should follow the guidelines
for melody writing from the previous handout.
• The melody you write should have a good contour that is independent of that of the cantus
firmus.
• First-species counterpoint is one-to-one counterpoint, so write one whole note for each note in the
cantus firmus.
• First-species counterpoint is consonant, so the only intervals that can occur between the voices are
unisons, 3rds, 5ths, 6ths, and 8ves.
• Begin on a perfect unison, 5th, or 8ve above the cantus firmus.
• End on either a perfect unison or 8ve above the cantus firmus.
• End with a clausula formalis (“formal close”). One voice will end 2-1 while the other voice ends 7-
1.
• In between the first and last measures, avoid perfect unisons and 8ves.
• Never write parallel perfect consonances; that means no parallel unisons, 5ths, or 8ves.
• Do not move to perfect 5ths and 8ves through similar motion. Perfect 5ths and 8ves approached
by similar motion are known as “direct 5ths” or “direct 8ves.”

Additional guidelines:

• Do not cross voices. The upper voice should always be above the lower voice and the lower
voice should always be below the upper voice.
• You may leap twice in the same direction, provided the leaps combine to create a major or
minor triad (and outline a 5th or 6th)– this is known as a “subdivided leap.” After the second
leap, be sure to continue with stepwise motion in the opposite direction.
• After you establish stepwise motion in one direction, do not leap in the same direction. This is
similar to the principal of changing direction after a leap – except by this principle you should
also change direction before a leap.

Be sure you write in the interval numbers between the staves.