THMUS 553E-554E — Advanced Counterpoint

3 credits per semester
Fall and Spring
Philip Lasser

Prerequisite: THMUS 511 . An intensive course devoted to studying the contrapuntal nature of music. Counterpoint is treated here not as a historical, style-based study, but rather as a fundamental controlling force in the syntax of Western music. The class is designed as a rigorous seminar with weekly written assignments on topics ranging from species to fully invertible counterpoint, and from canon to fugue. Concurrently, works from the Middle Ages through the 20th century will be analyzed for their underlying contrapuntal organization. Required of all undergraduate Composition majors.