Undergraduate Harmony and Counterpoint
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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).
Harmony & Counterpoint 1
MU115
Fall Semester
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: placement
Meetings: two 50 minute classes weekly and one 5 minute keyboard playback meeting weekly
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
composition of a non-modulating four-part Chorale
Final Project
Composition of a keyboard prelude modeled on Bach's Prelude No.1 in C Major BWV 846
Textbooks
THE MUSIC THEORY HANDBOOK
Marjorie Merryman
Wadsworth Publishing
ISBN: 9780155026629
371 HARMONIZED CHORALES AND 69 CHORALE MELODIES WITH FIGURED BASS
Johann Sebastian Bach, ed. Albert Riemenschneider
G. Schirmer
ISBN: 9780793525744
TBC PIANO CLASS BOOK
available from the Music Division Office
Grading
Class Participation and Homework 40%
Midterm Project 15%
Final Project 15%
Final Exam 30%
Harmony & Counterpoint 2
MU116
Spring Semester
Credits: 2
Prerequisites: Music Fundamentals, or Harmony & Counterpoint 1
Meetings: two 50 minute classes weekly and one 5 minute keyboard playback meeting weeklyy
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, second inversion triads, and tonicization. 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
• secondary functions
• tonicization
Midterm Project
Composition of a Theme and Variations in the style of Mozart, with an oral presentation and written analysis
Final Project
Composition of a Minuet in the style of Mozart, with an oral presentation and written analysis
Textbooks
VARIATIONS, RONDOS, AND OTHER WORKS FOR PIANO
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Dover Publications
ISBN: 9780486268828
THE MUSIC THEORY HANDBOOK
371 HARMONIZED CHORALES AND 69 CHORALE MELODIES WITH FIGURED BASS
TBC PIANO CLASS BOOK
see MU115 Harmony & Counterpoint 1
Grading
Class Participation and Homework 40%
Midterm Project 15%
Final Project 15%
Final Exam 30%
Harmony & Counterpoint 3
MU215
Fall Semester
Credits: 2
Prerequisites: Harmony & Counterpoint 2 or placement
Meetings: two 50 minute classes weekly and one 5 minute keyboard playback meeting weekly
Course Objectives
The objectives specific to Harmony & Counterpoint 3 are the ability to write and to make an analysis of simple sonata form, to write and make a harmonic analysis of four-part chorales, accompanied song, chamber works, and keyboard works incorporating mode mixture, Neapolitan chords, and augmented sixth chords. These skills will be achieved through an understanding of and proficiency in applying the following:
• secondary leading-tone chords
• common chord modulation
• modulation by common tone, altered chord, and sequence
• augmented sixth chords
• Neapolitan chords
Midterm Project
Analysis of a sonata exposition by Mozart
Final Project
Composition of a strophic song in the style of Schubert, with an oral presentation and written analysis
Textbooks
COMPLETE SONATAS AND FANTASIES FOR SOLO PIANO
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Dover Publications
ISBN: 9780486292229
COMPLETE SONG CYCLES
Franz Schubert
Dover Publications
ISBN: 9780486226491
THE MUSIC THEORY HANDBOOK
371 HARMONIZED CHORALES AND 69 CHORALE MELODIES WITH FIGURED BASS
TBC PIANO CLASS BOOK
see MU115 Harmony & Counterpoint 1
Grading
Class Participation and Homework 40%
Midterm Project 15%
Final Project 15%
Final Exam 30%
Harmony & Counterpoint 4
MU216
Spring Semester
Credits: 2
Prerequisites: Harmony & Counterpoint 3
Meetings: two 50 minute classes weekly and one 5 minute keyboard playback meeting weekly
Course Objectives
The objectives specific to Harmony & Counterpoint 4 are the ability to make an analysis of works written in the harmonic language of the late Romantic and early modernist era (up to Debussy and Scriabin). These skills will be achieved through an understanding of and proficiency in applying the following:
• borrowed chords
• enharmonicism
• extended chords
• expanded tonality
• modal harmony
• pentatonicism
• wholetone scales
Midterm Project
Composition of a prelude in the style of Chopin, with an oral presentation and written analysis
Final Project
A paper analyzing a work of Debussy or Scriabin
Textbooks
PRELUDES OP. 28
Frederic Chopin
W.W. Norton & Co.
ISBN: 9780393096996
COMPLETE PRELUDES AND ETUDES
Alexander Scriabin
Dover Publications
ISBN: 9780486229195
THE MUSIC THEORY HANDBOOK
TBC PIANO CLASS BOOK
see MU115 Harmony & Counterpoint 1
Grading
Class Participation and Homework 40%
Midterm Project 15%
Final Project 15%
Final Exam 30%
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