"Getting started with Counterpoint Composer" by James Waver

1. Getting Started withGetting Started with
Counterpoint ComposerCounterpoint Composer
James L. Weaver
Developer / Evangelist
Twitter: @JavaFXpert
Email: jweaver@pivotal.io
http://JavaFXpert.com
http://CulturedEar.com
http://CounterpointComposer.com

2. About the PresenterAbout the Presenter
Author of several Java/JavaFX/RaspPi booksAuthor of several Java/JavaFX/RaspPi books
Java Champion, JavaOne Rockstar, plays well with others, etc. :-)

3. Have been speaking Italiano for many yearsHave been speaking Italiano for many years
(since taking music lessons as a child)(since taking music lessons as a child)
pianississimo
fermata
pianissimo
piano
tenuto
tremolo
crescendo
diminuendo
mezzo forte
segno
coda
staccato

4. What is counterpoint?What is counterpoint?
"The relationship between voices that"The relationship between voices that
areare interdependentinterdependent harmonically yetharmonically yet
independentindependent in rhythm and contour"in rhythm and contour"
Tip: For a gentle introduction to counterpoint, check out
the Species Counterpoint article by Nicholas H. Tollervey

5. Counterpoint exampleCounterpoint example

6. Listen forListen for interdependentinterdependent harmonies andharmonies and
independentindependent rhythms & contourrhythms & contour

7. Giovanni PalestrinaGiovanni Palestrina
Text
Italian Renaissance composer of sacred music
Created Palestrina-style counterpoint
Best known 16th-century representative of the Roman
School of musical composition
Influenced music of composers such as Johann
Sebastian Bach

8. Johann Joseph FuxJohann Joseph Fux
Text
Codified Palestrina's techniques in the 1700s, calling it
species-counterpoint, mainly for teaching students.
Published in Gradus ad Parnassum
Describe valid pitch and rhythmic relationships
between notes
Influenced music of Hayden, Mozart and Beethoven

9. "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" cantus firmus"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" cantus firmus
This will be our main melody
Brilla brilla una stellina, su nel cielo piccolina
Let's jump right in with a demo in which Counterpoint
Creator writes counterpoint for a simple melody

10. Demo: Create counterpoint (first-species) forDemo: Create counterpoint (first-species) for
Twinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle Twinkle Little Star

11. Now let's review theNow let's review the
steps from the demosteps from the demo

12. "Twinkle" cantus firmus including initial chord"Twinkle" cantus firmus including initial chord
Initial chord contains number of voices and their starting notes
To enter these notes into the staff:
1. Click the Clear menu item to clear the staff
2. Click the piano icon to reveal the piano keyboard:
3. Click in the staff to give it focus:
4. While pressing the shift-key, click each of the notes
in the initial chord
5. Release the shift key and click the remaining notes

13. Twinkle first-species counterpointTwinkle first-species counterpoint
Cantus firmus is automatically converted to whole
notes, and melodies are placed on separate staves
To achieve similar results, in the menubar:
1. Verify that First species is selected
2. Verify that Ionian mode is selected
3. Click the Compose menu item
Clicking the Listen button will play the composition:

14. To learn more about first-speciesTo learn more about first-species
counterpoint, check out:counterpoint, check out:
For pointers on composing aFor pointers on composing a
cantus firmus, check out:cantus firmus, check out:
(Wikipedia)
(Open Music Theory)
Counterpoint, First species
Composing a first-species counterpoint
(Open Music Theory)Composing a cantus firmus

15. Twinkle second-species counterpointTwinkle second-species counterpoint
Second species contains half-notes in counter-melodies
To achieve similar results, in the menubar:
1. Select Second species
2. Verify that Ionian mode is selected
3. Click the Compose menu item

16. Demo: Create second-species counterpoint forDemo: Create second-species counterpoint for
Twinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle Twinkle Little Star

17. To learn more about second-To learn more about second-
species counterpoint, check out:species counterpoint, check out:
(Wikipedia)
(Open Music Theory)
Counterpoint, Second species
Composing a second-species counterpoint

18. Twinkle third-species counterpointTwinkle third-species counterpoint
Third species contains quarter-notes in counter-melodies
To achieve similar results, in the menubar:
1. Select Third species
2. Verify that Ionian mode is selected
3. Click the Compose menu item

19. Demo: Creating third-species counterpoint forDemo: Creating third-species counterpoint for
Twinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle Twinkle Little Star

20. To learn more about third-To learn more about third-
species counterpoint, check out:species counterpoint, check out:
(Wikipedia)
(Open Music Theory)
Counterpoint, Third species
Composing a third-species counterpoint

21. Twinkle fourth-species counterpointTwinkle fourth-species counterpoint
Fourth species contains sustained half-notes in counter-melodies
To achieve similar results, in the menubar:
1. Select Fourth species
2. Verify that Ionian mode is selected
3. Click the Compose menu item

22. Demo: Creating fourth-species counterpoint forDemo: Creating fourth-species counterpoint for
Twinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle Twinkle Little Star

23. To learn more about fourth-To learn more about fourth-
species counterpoint, check out:species counterpoint, check out:
(Wikipedia)
(Open Music Theory)
Counterpoint, Fourth species
Composing a fourth-species counterpoint

24. Twinkle fifth-species counterpointTwinkle fifth-species counterpoint
Fifth species combines first through fourth + eighth notes & rests
To achieve similar results, in the menubar:
1. Select Fifth species
2. Verify that Ionian mode is selected
3. Click the Compose menu item

25. Demo: Fifth-species counterpoint forDemo: Fifth-species counterpoint for
Twinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle Twinkle Little Star

26. To learn more about fifth-speciesTo learn more about fifth-species
counterpoint, check out:counterpoint, check out:
(Wikipedia)Counterpoint, Fifth species

27. Exploring ModesExploring Modes
Using the mode selectorUsing the mode selector

28. Composing in Dorian modeComposing in Dorian mode
Start/end the cantus firmus with a D note and select Dorian mode
The same idea holds true for all modes:
Mode Start/end note
Ionian C
Dorian D
Phrygian E
Lydian F
Mixolydian G
Aeolian A
Locrian B

29. Demo: Composing counterpointDemo: Composing counterpoint
in Dorian modein Dorian mode

30. Changing the RulesChanging the Rules
Examine the counterpoint rulesExamine the counterpoint rules
and results of altering themand results of altering them

31. Modifying counterpoint rulesModifying counterpoint rules
There are 70+ counterpoint rules, categorized by importance, that
may be toggled to see their effect on the counter-melodies

32. Toggling a counterpoint ruleToggling a counterpoint rule
One such rule is to avoid unisons in two-part counterpoint.
Here we've toggled it so that the rule is not in effect.

33. The effects of disabling theThe effects of disabling the avoid unisonsavoid unisons rulerule
Here is our most recent composition before disabling the rule:
Here is the composition after disabling the "avoid unisons" rule:
Note that the final measure now contains D notes in unison,
and that most of Melody 2 has changed as a result.

34. Demo: Toggling a counterpoint rule,Demo: Toggling a counterpoint rule,
and its effect on a counter-melodyand its effect on a counter-melody

35. Getting Started withGetting Started with
Counterpoint ComposerCounterpoint Composer
James L. Weaver
Developer / Evangelist
Pivotal Software
Twitter: @JavaFXpert
Email: jweaver@pivotal.io
http://JavaFXpert.com
http://CulturedEar.com
http://CounterpointComposer.com
Hope you enjoyed