The theory of counterpoint is not a theory of composition. Which are the best books or methods to learn counterpoint. This book exudes the love and enthusiasm of the author for the subject and her readers. For instance, when i first started reading william caplins classical form, it was like a lightbulb going off in my head. The authors present the principles of jazz harmony and chord scale theory clearly and invitingly. It has been most commonly identified in the european classical tradition, strongly developing during the renaissance and in much of the common practice period, especially in the baroque.
Nov 04, 2017 beth denischs book contemporary counterpoint can be used as a valuable recourse for musicians wellversed in counterpoint and new to counterpoint alike. The 5 music theorycomposition books that most influenced. Oct 29, 2015 music theory is simply a way to talk about the sound of music. If you have a specific question about counterpoint it would better be. It is to an understanding of counterpoint as such that this book is directed. Filled with lyrical prose and lush descriptions of the setting including pepas explorations of the jungle and its animal inhabitants, this is a thoughtful reflection on a family and its legacy. The interval between the given note and the note in your countermelody should be consonant majorminor 3rd or 6th, perfect unison, 5th, or octave, or a compound form. For more in depth discussion about counterpoint, see my free online counterpoint book, at.
Are there good examples of counterpoint jazz compositions. I took the online version of the counterpoint course as a refresher and loved every minute of it. Music theorycounterpoint wikibooks, open books for an. This line may be taken from a book of chorales, as fux suggests, may be provided by a teacher, may be composed by the student himherself or may be taken from the work of a master. The art of counterpoint is the art of combining melodic lines. Over 500 pages of comprehensive, but easy to understand text covering every aspect of how jazz is constructedchord construction, iivi progressions, scale theory, chordscale relationships, the blues, reharmonization, and much more. Some bassists make their lines a little more sophistica.
Jan 12, 2011 the most highlyacclaimed jazz theory book ever published. David oakes, a former student of his, also has a great tribute page with a bunch jimmys material. These music theory and composition books were enormously influential on my development as a musician in one way or another. With contemporary counterpoint, im so happy to see the same course materials in a book and hope others get as much out of it as i did. Counterpoint is the mediation of two or more musical lines into a meaningful and pleasing whole. It is called double counterpoint when it involves two voices, triple and quadruple when three or four voices are used. In jazz theory, dariusz terefenko writes that at the surface level, jazz.
Of the many books i have on the subject the jazz theory book and the jazz piano book are the ones that have given me the most useful and applicable information. The premier site for the history and analysis of the standards jazz musicians play the most. Voice leading or part writing is the linear progression of individual melodic lines voices or parts and their interaction with one another to create harmonies, typically in accordance with the principles of commonpractice harmony and counterpoint. Includes a numeric voicing chart, chord indexes in all 12 keys, instrument chord range chart and a beginning approach to playing. One contrapuntal line is always composed against another given line. They came at the right time for me maybe theyll come at the right.
During the fifteen years that have elapsed, a considerable change has come over the outlook upon contrapuntal study in this country. This is done so that a transposed version of the resulting melodic line may be used as a separate part. Counterpoint is a style of musical writing which involves intertwining two or more melodies. For what its worth, i was music theory major and i know all the classic texts. If you have a specific question about counterpoint it would better be to ask that instead. It is one of the more effective music theory texts i have yet read maybe the best, need to think about that for a while longer, and while it is as yet too much for my 9 y. A study plan species counterpoint is a pedagogical method that breaks the learning task into welldefined graduated stages. First, technique and theory are really different things. Music theory and composition books sheet music at jw pepper. Counterpoint is the basis of classical music theory, growing out of the early sacred music traditions of the catholic church into the common practice for composers of the 15th through 18th. Music theory complete guide to counterpoint internet archive. Unfortunately, not many people really listen to music like that anymore. Nov 17, 2015 it depends on what sort of learner you are. The problem with most counterpoint books and courses is that the only thing they know how to do is teach you to write something like this.
Ligons jazz theory resources are probably good to balance. The most highlyacclaimed jazz theory book ever published. It is something altogether different to apply the knowledge. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It is an extremely valuable skill for a musician to study historical evidence shows that haydn, mozart, and beethoven all. In addition to the other fine answers, allow me to point out that a basic walking bass, if done properly, is free counterpoint against whatever is going on above it melody or improvisation. Jun 01, 1995 of the many books i have on the subject the jazz theory book and the jazz piano book are the ones that have given me the most useful and applicable information.
I believe jj fuxs treatise on counterpoint is essential to any pupil wishing to learn the craft of tonal composition. When i think of counterpoint in jazz, i immediately think of the late jimmy wyble and his etudes for guitar. This is a workbook, and therefore contains very little explanation. Only the river this is an epic generational tale set against the backdrop of revolutionary war in nicaragua.
If the countermelody is above the given melody, then the last note of the countermelody should be in the tonic chord. Each individual melody also called a voice or part is an independent, musical idea, and the emphasis is on the separate strands of melody, on the horizontal axis, rather than on the harmony, or vertical axis. The book presents material in a logical way, guiding students through the evolution of counterpoint from its conception through modern times. The essence of counterpoint, however, is something deeper than a process of manipulation. It goes through species 15 for 1 voice, and proceeds with developments of up to 4. The best jazz theory book for me is the records first and foremost. Longtime performer and educator rob mullins helps players enter the jazz world by providing voicings that will help the player develop skills in the jazz genre and start sounding professional right away without years of study.
It reminds me of the books written by the great professors of the eastman school of music back in the sixties howard hanson, alfred mann and roger they just cared so much about. It is not berklees intention that students purchase any of these books before. Music theorycounterpointspecies counterpointin two voices. Gain a broad overview of counterpoint and the art of writing lines that support both the melody and the overall structure of a compositionessential information for singers, songwriters, composers, guitarists, and musicians from all backgrounds. Emphasizing real music and musicmaking, the musicians guide to theory and analysis gives students the handson tools they need to. In firstspecies counterpoint, we not only write a smooth melody that has its own integrity of shape, variety, and goaldirected motion, but we also write a second melody that contains these traits. If you read about canons, will you have the discipline to wr. Class notes for counterpoint carnegie mellon university. Mar 05, 2012 emphasizing real music and musicmaking, the musicians guide to theory and analysis gives students the handson tools they need to learn how music works. This leads to some general methodological reflections on different approaches to mathematical music theory, as well as to an alternative model of firstspecies counterpoint featuring the. In music, counterpoint is the relationship between voices which are harmonically interdependent yet independent in rhythm and contour. Counterpoint is an approach to musical composition based on the union of independent and interdependent melodies.
Get confidence and peace of mind by filling in the gaps to your jazz theory knowledge. Music theorycounterpoint wikibooks, open books for an open. Apr 19, 2012 species counterpoint is a type of so called strict counterpoint, developed as a pedagogical tool, in which a student progresses through several species of increasing complexity, always working a very plain given part in the cantus firmus latin for fixed melody. I dont have the above mentioned books, but i have ligons other 2 books and theyre excellent. It provides a strong grounding in the most important of all musical techniques. Sure, it is brilliant writing and it sounds great, but its old fashioned and i mean really old fashioned. Sometimes you come across a gem, that explains things well and is easy to read. The first edition of this treatise was published in 1907. Its a way to conceptualize the construction of the sounds that you listen to everyday. While you will frequently compose examples during the course of our study, it behooves you to keep this important distinction in mind. It may not be for someone with zero background in music jazz theory. A required text in universities worldwide, translated into five. Finally, we would recommend that any counterpoint exercise, from the simplest to the most elaborate, be discussed as a real composition, with a beginning, a development, and an end.
Feb 06, 2017 in addition to the other fine answers, allow me to point out that a basic walking bass, if done properly, is free counterpoint against whatever is going on above it melody or improvisation. It is one thing to find a website or book that goes into counterpoint and theory. Internet archive bookreader books on music theory harmony, counterpoint, orchestration in english, jazz too. The accompanying audio files help demonstrate melody, harmony and rhythmic elements of jazz and also includes a variety of musicwriting exercises focused on learning these same elements to help you begin producing your own effective jazz compositions. Beautiful book that covers the basics of counterpoint in an easy to understand way. Jazz piano ebook collection jazz hero booksjazz hero books.
Hal leonard pocket music theory by keith wyatt the jazz harmony book by david berkman. However, i do have a bookshelf with lots of reference books for when i need to leaf through to figure out what im hearing. Which are the best books or methods to learn counterpoint and. It is an ingredient of the inner vitality of music and is found in nearly all music. It may not be for someone with zero background in musicjazz theory. Best music theory books 2020 music theory practice. Counterpoint arnold schoenberg preliminary exercises in counterpoint requires prior knowledge in basic counterpoint and music theory orchestration principles of orchestration by nikolay rimskykorsakov fantastic book, learnt loads from it you can find free pdfs without too much searching, hope this helps. There are many types, many ways to view this subject, and even different species of counterpoint. Voice opens our ears and voices to a new way of understanding counterpoint.
Theory and practice is a byproduct of peases 25 years of teaching jazz composition. Double counterpoint is the practice of writing a line so that both the intervals and their inversion usually octave inversions, but tenth and twelfth inversions may sometimes be used follow an acceptable pattern of consonance and dissonance. Books on music theory harmony, counterpoint, orchestration. This is the only way to evaluate counterpoint that will be consistently relevant to the real problems faced by a composer. Explore counterpoint in contemporary practice, from jazz to aleatoric styles. That note is an a, that sound is a minor 7th chord, and that song is a 12 bar blues. A recasting of commonpractice harmony, form, and counterpoint. Music theory by ryan miyakawa, the study of counterpoint by. Race through 10 years of my own reading, learning and study, in as little as a weekend. The berklee book of jazz harmony is eminently readable and userfriendly. Throughout, the text is generously supplied with musical examples. Below are several well written books for the study of jazz theory.
Counterpoint and how to use it in your music is a stepbystep course in counterpoint, and shows you how to apply it in your own music, whether you write contemporary pop songs or pieces for orchestral or traditional instruments. Counterpoint is extremely helpful in comping, as well as when composing, arranging, etc. Classical theory is also a huge help in the jazz world, since a lot of our theory is the same, just as well we get our theory from theirs, so it only makes sense to know a part of the other world. Species counterpoint is mostly associated with johann joseph fux, who presented the five species in his gradus ad parnassum steps to parnassus in 1725. It is my desert island jazz and even just plain music theory book. We are celebrating our 40th year of business and have a wide selection of books focusing mainly on the arts, literature, poetry, film, stage, and philosophy with a wide variety of other categories including memorabilia and ephemera. Jazz chord progressions basic chords before we look at more complex jazz chords, we should have a look at on of the most basic chord types, which is a triad, socalled as it has only 3 notes.
Good books for compositionorchestrationcounterpoint. It goes through species 15 for 1 voice, and proceeds with developments of up to 4 voices. Learning counterpoint on your own art of composing. This is not to say, however, that your composed examples ought not to be musical. Counterpoint and how to use it in your music rakuten kobo. Composing a secondspecies counterpoint in secondspecies counterpoint, the counterpoint line moves in half notes against a cantus firmus in whole notes. Why jazz theory is easier than you think jazzadvice. Composing a firstspecies counterpoint open music theory.