A Practical Approach to 16th Century Counterpoint, Revised Edition

Practical work in writing counterpoint! Robert Gauldin emphasizes the acquisition of writing skills in the contrapuntal discipline and the simulation of sixteenth century sacred polyphonic idioms in this volume. The author follows a didactic method of a "non species or direct" approach. While no previous contrapuntal training is necessary to absorb this material, some acquaintance with Baroque polyphonic terminology proves helpful.

Key features include: musical examples illustrating specific devices are taken from musical literature or composed by the author; demonstrates the possibility of employing a single given pitch series within the contexts of different compositional techniques; includes a collection of complete or excerpted movements drawn from musical literature at the conclusion of each major textual division; emphasizes Palestrina and the Counter Reformation sacred style; discusses various compositional procedures of the late Renaissance, including paraphrase, cantus firmus, familiar style, parody, polychoral technique, and chromaticism.

Titles of related interest from Waveland Press: Gauldin, A Practical Approach to 18th Century Counterpoint, Revised Edition (ISBN 9781478604709) and Soderlund-Scott, Examples of Gregorian Chant and Sacred Music of the 16th Century (ISBN 9780881339093).

"All of Gauldin's books are clear, readable, and perfectly suited for classroom use or learning on your own."

"Simply the best textbooks on the subject I have ever seen."

"Gauldin covers a range of important and varied topics very efficiently."

"I have been impressed with all of the theory books by Mr. Gauldin. The written explanations are clear, concise, and well supported with musical examples."

"I am very fond of Mr. Gauldin's practical approaches and the abundant documentation he presents."