Module: Harmony, Counterpoint & Composition 1

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Harmony, Counterpoint & Composition 1
Module Code	MC112 (ITS) / MPA1010 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Theology, Philosophy & Music
Module Co-ordinator	Seán Doherty
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	6	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only

Description

Students will learn foundational concepts in harmony and counterpoint through composition exercises, listening tasks, and performance. This is achieved through the completion of weekly exercises in two-voice counterpoint derived from the historical treatise on Renaissance counterpoint by Johann Joseph Fux, ‘Gradus ad Parnassum’ (1725). These exercises systematically introduce the study of counterpoint over five stages or ‘species’, hence the name species counterpoint.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify number and quality of melodic and harmonic intervals and relate these to the conventions of species counterpoint
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the types of harmonic motion and their associated rules of voice-leading
3. Demonstrate an understanding of various types of non-harmony notes and their permitted use in each species
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the stylistic features of species counterpoint
5. Present and manipulate relevant composition work in appropriate notation software

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Teaching, performance, listening, discussion of course content
Assignment Completion	48	Continuous Assessment
Independent Study	53	Weekly tasks
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Harmony and Counterpoint
Permitted and prohibited melodic and harmonic intervals; consonance and dissonance; types of harmonic motion (parallel, similar, oblique, contrary); types of non-harmony notes (passing notes, suspensions, neighbour notes); modal counterpoint; chromatic inflections at cadences; stylistic features of Renaissance counterpoint.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Music Composition	First-Species Counterpoint	20%	n/a
Music Composition	Second-Species Counterpoint	20%	n/a
Music Composition	Third-Species Counterpoint	20%	n/a
Music Composition	Fourth-Species Counterpoint	20%	n/a
Music Composition	Fifth-Species Counterpoint	20%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Johann Joseph Fux, trans. Alfred Mann: 1960, ‘The Study of Counterpoint’, in Gradus ad Parnassum, Norton, London,
Stephen C. Stone: 2018, Music Theory and Composition: A Practical Approach, Rowman & Littlefield,

Other Resources

None