University of Texas at Austin, Butler School of Music

MUS 325M – Counterpoint

Spring 2021

• Unique number: 23065

• Class meeting time: Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-10:45am
• Instructional mode: ONLINE. This course is designed to be 100% online. Students will
be able to complete all required course activities remotely. This course will involve
asynchronous learning activities where students will be required to complete coursework
on their own. Enrolled students will be notified by the instructor which assignments will
be asynchronous, when those assignments will be available, and when they will be due.
• Class website: https://utexas.instructure.com/courses/1304848
• Class instructor: Marianne Wheeldon (mwheeldon@austin.utexas.edu)
• Class office hours: by appointment via Zoom

Required Texts
All required texts will be available on Canvas.

Class Procedure
There will be required reading and/or a composition assignment to be prepared in advance of
class. Late assignments will not be accepted. In addition, there will be three larger composition
projects and three listening exams assigned at regular intervals throughout the semester.

Evaluation
• 15 assignments 30% (15 x 2%)
• 3 Composition projects 45% (3 x 15%)
• 3 listening exams 15% (3 x 5%)
• Attendance/participation 10%

Grading Scale
A=92.5-100 A-=90-92.5 B+=87.5-89 B=82.5-87.5 B-=80-82.5 C+=77.5-79
C=72.5-77.5 C-=70-72.5 D+=67.5-69 D=62.5-67.5 D-=60-62.5 F=0-59

Americans with Disability Act

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations
for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Division of Diversity
and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 512-471-6259,
http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/ (Links to an external site.)

Religious Holy Days

By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to
the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, an
assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to
complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.
Academic Integrity
Each student in the course is expected to abide by the University of Texas Honor Code:
“As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall abide by the core values of the
University and uphold academic integrity.” This means that work you produce on assignments,
tests, and exams is all your own work. You are responsible for understanding UT’s Academic
Honesty Policy which can be found at the following web address:
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acint_student.php (Links to an external site.)

Class Recordings
Class recordings are reserved only for students in this class for educational purposes and are
protected under FERPA. The recordings should not be shared outside the class in any form.
Violation of this restriction by a student could lead to Student Misconduct proceedings.

Sharing of Course Materials is Prohibited

No materials used in this class, including, but not limited to, lecture hand-outs, videos,
assessments (quizzes, exams, papers, projects, homework assignments), in-class materials,
review sheets, and additional problem sets, may be shared online or with anyone outside of the
class unless you have my explicit, written permission. Unauthorized sharing of materials
promotes cheating. It is a violation of the University’s Student Honor Code and an act of
academic dishonesty. I am well aware of the sites used for sharing materials, and any materials
found online that are associated with you, or any suspected unauthorized sharing of materials,
will be reported to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Office of the Dean of
Students. These reports can result in sanctions, including failure in the course.

CLASS OUTLINE
MODULE 1: Composing a Chaconne
Week 1 (1/19 and 1/21) Harmonizing a Subject in Simple Counterpoint (chapter 3)
Week 2 (1/26 and 1/28) Melodic Embellishment in Strict Style (chapter 4)
Week 3 (2/2 and 2/4) Sequences and Episodes (chapter 12)
Week 4 (2/9 and 2/11) Variation Techniques (chapter 5); Listening exam 1
Week 5 (2/16 and 2/18) Variation Techniques (contd.); Composition project 1

MODULE 2: Composing a Trio Sonata

Week 6 (2/23 and 2/25) Imitation at the Unison or Octave (chapter 6)
Week 7 (3/2 and 3/4) Imitation at the Fifth (chapter 7)
Week 8 (3/9 and 3/11) Imitation at the Fifth minor mode (chapter 12)
SPRING BREAK
Week 9 (3/23 and 3/25) Remodulation and a Third Entry (chapter 8); Listening exam 2
Week 10 (3/30 and 4/1) Remodulation and a Third Entry (contd.); Composition project 2

MODULE 3: Composing a Fugue

Week 11 (4/6 and 4/8) Fugue exposition (chapter 9)
Week 12 (4/13 and 4/15) Fugue exposition (contd.)
Week 13 (4/20 and 4/22) Tonal answer (chapter 10)
Week 14 (4/27 and 4/29) Sequences and Episodes (chapter 12); Listening exam 3
Week 15 (5/4 and 5/6) Composition project 3
Listening Exam 1
Handel, Suite in G minor, HWV 432, “Passacaille”
Pachelbel, Chaconne in F minor, P. 43
Purcell, Chacony in G minor
Bach, Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004, “Chaconne”

Listening Exam 2
Handel, Trio Sonata in B minor, Op. 2 no. 1, i (HWV 386b)
Loeillet, Trio Sonata in F major, Op. 2 no. 2, i
Corelli, Church Sonata in E minor, Op. 3 no. 7, i and ii
Bach, Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043

Listening Exam 3
Bach, Fugue in C major, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1
Bach, Fugue in C minor, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1
Bach, Fugue in D major, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1
Bach, Fugue in D minor, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1
Bach, Fugue in C minor, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2
Bach, Fugue in D minor, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2