Counterpoint
The art of combining two or more independent melodic lines simultaneously.
Category
composition
Pronunciation
KOWN-ter-point
Origin
Latin (contrapunctus, note against note)
Length
129 words · 1 min read
About Counterpoint
Counterpoint is the technique of writing multiple voices that are melodically independent yet harmonically interdependent. Developed extensively in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, counterpoint follows rules governing consonance, dissonance, voice leading, and rhythmic independence.
More composition terms
Twelve-Tone Technique
View all compositionterms →A method of composition that treats all twelve chromatic pitches as equal, ordering them into a fixed row that governs the entire work.
SequenceThe repetition of a musical pattern at successively higher or lower pitch levels.
OrchestrationThe art of assigning musical material to specific instruments within an orchestra to create desired timbres
CanonA contrapuntal composition in which a melody is imitated exactly by one or more voices entering in succession.
PolyphonyA musical texture featuring two or more independent melodic lines sounding simultaneously.
Synonyms
See Also
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