Harmony & Counterpoint
Harmony & Counterpoint Sequence

Harmony & Counterpoint 1

Harmony & Counterpoint 2
Harmony & Counterpoint 3
Harmony & Counterpoint 4


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Harmony & Counterpoint Sequence
The four semester harmony and counterpoint sequence provides the means and the vocabulary to understand, imitate, and analyze music of the Common Practice Period – (1600–1900; Baroque, Classic, and Romantic.

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Harmony & Counterpoint 1

MU115

Fall Semester 2008
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: placement

Course Objectives

The objectives specific to Harmony & Counterpoint 1 are the ability to write and to make a harmonic analysis of four-part chorale style exercises using root position and first inversion triads. These skills will be achieved through an understanding of, and proficiency in applying the following:
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd species counterpoint
• inversion symbols and figured bass
• diatonic triads in major and minor keys
• identification of 7th chords
• principles of voice leading
• root position part writing
• 1st inversion part writing
• harmonic progression
• harmonizing a melody
• harmonizing a bass line

Midterm Project
a 2nd species counterpoint and cantus firmus to be performed by the student
Final Project
a four-part Chorale
to be performed by the student

Textbooks
Required texts are available online from www.textbookx.com
THE MUSIC THEORY HANDBOOK
Marjorie Merryman
Wadsworth Publishing, 1996
ISBN: 9780155026629

371 FOUR-PART CHORALES
Johann Sebastian Bach           
Alfred Publishing Company, 1985
ISBN: 9780769240916

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR IN MUSIC
Aaron Copland
Signet Classics, 2002
ISBN: 9780451528674


TBC PIANO CLASS BOOK

Grading
Class Participation and
 Homework
Midterm Project
Final Project
Final Exam



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Harmony & Counterpoint 2
MU116

Spring Semester 2009
Credits: 2
Prerequisites: Music Fundamentals, or Harmony & Counterpoint 1, or placement

Course Objectives

The objectives specific to Harmony & Counterpoint 2 are the ability to write and to make a harmonic analysis of four-part chorale style exercises and of baroque and classical keyboard literature incorporating non-chord tones, seventh chords and second inversion triads. These skills will be achieved through an understanding of, and proficiency in applying the following:
• 4th species counterpoint
• triads in second inversion
• cadences, phrases, and periods
• non-chord tones
• usage and resolution of diatonic seventh chords
• introduction to secondary functions

Midterm Project
a keyboard prelude modeled on Bach's Prelude No.1 in C Major BWV 846 to be performed by the student
Final Project
a Theme and Variations in the style of Mozart, with an oral presentation and written analysis

Textbooks

Required texts are available online from www.textbookx.com
VARIATIONS, RONDOS, AND OTHER WORKS FOR PIANO
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Dover Publications
ISBN: 9780486268828

THE MUSIC THEORY HANDBOOK
371 FOUR-PART CHORALES
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR IN MUSIC
TBC PIANO CLASS BOOK

see MU115 Harmony & Counterpoint 1

Grading
Class Participation and
 Homework
Midterm Project
Final Project
Final Exam



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Harmony & Counterpoint 3
MU215

Fall Semester 2008
Credits: 2
Prerequisites: Harmony & Counterpoint 2 or placement

Course Objectives

The objectives specific to Harmony & Counterpoint 3 are the ability to write in and to make an analysis of 18th and 19th-century harmonic language, and to write and to make a harmonic analysis of four-part chorale style exercises incorporating tonicization and modulation. These skills will be achieved through an understanding of, and proficiency in applying the following:
• secondary dominant chords
• secondary leading-tone chords
• common chord modulation
• modulation by common tone, altered chord, and sequence
• binary and ternary form


Midterm Project
a keyboard minuet in the style of Scarlatti, with an oral presentation and written analysis
Final Project
a strophic song in the style of Schubert, with an oral presentation and written analysis

Textbooks

Required texts are available online from www.textbookx.com
COMPLETE SONG CYCLES            
Franz Schubert                                    
Dover Publications
ISBN: 9780486226491

THE MUSIC THEORY HANDBOOK
371 FOUR-PART CHORALES
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR IN MUSIC

TBC PIANO CLASS BOOK

see MU115 Harmony & Counterpoint 1

Grading
Class Participation and
 Homework
Midterm Project
Final Project
Final Exam



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Harmony & Counterpoint 4
MU216

Spring Semester 2009
Credits: 2
Prerequisites: Harmony & Counterpoint 3 or placement

Course Objectives

The objectives specific to Harmony & Counterpoint 4 are the ability to write and to make an analysis of simple sonata form, and to write and make a harmonic analysis of four-part chorale style exercises and keyboard works incorporating mode mixture, Neapolitan chords, and augmented sixth chords, and to acquire an understanding of the harmonic language of late Romantic and early modernist music up to Debussy and Ravel. These skills will be achieved through an understanding of and proficiency in applying the following:
• borrowed chords
• the Neapolitan sixth
• augmented sixth chords
• enharmonicism
• extended chords
• expanded tonality

Midterm Project
a sonata exposition, with an oral presentation and written analysis
Final Project
a prelude in the style of Chopin, with an oral presentation and written analysis

Textbooks

Required texts are available online from www.textbookx.com
PIANO SONATAS VOLUME 1
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Dover Publications
ISBN: 9780486231341

PRELUDES, OP. 28
Frederic Chopin
W.W. Norton & Co.; 1974
ISBN: 9780393096996

THE MUSIC THEORY HANDBOOK
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR IN MUSIC
TBC PIANO CLASS BOOK

see MU115 Harmony & Counterpoint 1

Grading
Class Participation and
 Homework
Midterm Project
Final Project
Final Exam


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