Intensive classes are offered in the study of the craft of counterpoint. These classes are not style-based. Rather, the classes are designed for the study and perfection of contrapuntal principles fundamental to the control of all Western musical styles.
Instructors: Philip Lasser, Lance Horne, Benjamin C.S. Boyle, Lane Harder, Edward Niedermaier
Species Counterpoint: This class examines the often neglected single-line counterpoint, and the four basic species in two, three, and four voices. Exercises concentrate on the concepts of metrics, melodic control, imitation and non-chord tone usage. Ultimately students write and perform four-voice, imitative motets. The majority of new students will be placed into this course. Higher levels of these course will study all forms of polyphonic imitation, invertible counterpoint, and multiple invertible counterpoint.
Canon and Fugue: This class begins with the study of canonic procedures, including the study of cyclical canons, inversion canons, cancrizan canons, retrograde canons; and the study of 'flip' chorales, segueing into the study of Fugue. Special topics concentrate on how to write the most flexible subject, what is involved in writing the appropriate answer, working out all possible procedures available in the subject such as stretto, canon, inversion, augmentation, etc. Fugal exposition, episodic writing, sequencing, modulation, middle entries and coda, as well as writing the appropriate Prelude, are also studied. The class will culminate in the completion of a Prelude and Fugue for either organ or piano.
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