2-Part Counterpoint Assignment MUS 110 Syllabus  MUS 110 Schedule  William Wieland
Compose a second line to accompany one of the following Christmas carol melodies:

MuseScore files:  Away in a Manger  Jolly Old Saint Nicholas  Joy to the World

Follow these guidelines:
  1. Compose only 2-part music. (Add an alto line to the original melody.)
  2. Place your second part just BELOW the melody using Voice 2. (To the right of the pencil, note durations, accidentals, and articulations, click on the quarter note followed by the number 2.)
  3. Begin and end with an interval which implies a tonic triad, e.g. 1 & 3, 1 & 5, 1 & 8 or 3 & 8. (See 2-Part Counterpoint Endings.)
  4. Write all or mostly 3rds, 6ths and 10ths between the two parts. You may write a few perfect unisons, 5ths, or octaves—but not in parallel motion. Try not to write a harmonic interval more than 4 times in a row.
    See Ihr Kinderlein, kommet and Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht.
  5. Use the Nearest Notes. (Compose mostly stepwise melodic motion.)
  6. Write NO Perfect Parallels between the parts. Favor oblique motion. (Search online for “Bach kills a kitten.”)
  7. You may write dissonances if you identify them. Use dissonances only on weak beats, only one in a row, and only stepwise. See Intervals for a list of dissonant intervals. See also Nonharmonic Tones.
  8. For the highest grade, carefully consider the harmonies implied by your counterpoint.
For more information, refer to one of the many fine Counterpoint Books.
Initial Week — Before Friday at 5:00 pm, place your assignment in the D2L - Assessments - Dropbox - 2-Part Counterpoint Rough Draft.
Over the Weekend — I will comment upon your work.
Subsequent Week

— Before Wednesday, revise your assignment and place it in the D2L - Communications - Discuss - Compositions and Critiques - 2-Part Counterpoint Assignment.

— If time permits, compare your counterpoint to that of students who worked on the same tune.