Counterpoint:

Third Species

KMMC103: Pastiche
Week 3
Adam Greig
Recap:
 How many of the rules up to second species can you
remember...?
 There are other stylistic points about writing
counterpoint that you may wish to consider. These help
to avoid any mistakes in writing, and also provide a good
melodic line:
 Avoid making successive same-direction leaps in a single voice
unless they outline a triad.
 Avoid writing more than three of any same intervals in
succession. (e.g. Four successive thirds, or sixths).
Follow the mistakes!
Third Species
 In third species counterpoint, four notes are now written for each
note of the cantus firmus. This allows for a much more melodious
line, but also allows for many more mistakes.
 The rules that apply to third species counterpoint are:
 The first note of each bar must be consonant with the cantus
firmus.
 The second note must either be consonant, or a dissonant passing
note.
 The third note, likewise, may be either consonant, or a dissonant
passing note.
 The fourth note, likewise, may be either consonant, or a dissonant
passing note.
 One other form of dissonance is allowed, this is called the cambiata
formula. In the cambiata the second note is a dissonance which is
not a passing note. The formula in practice is intervals 8-7-5-6 above
the cantus firmus.
Examples of motions
Homework
 Complete the third species exercise written in class.
 Your counterpoint should be written above or below the
cantus firmus in D.
 If you finish this, try to include another line of
counterpoint in first species as well. Remember to check
for errors between each part.