Hot answers tagged composition
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Fux does allow them in counterpoint. As I pointed out in one of my comments, confusion comes from voice-relationships:
A minor-sixth is of course allowable between two voices because it is an imperfect consonant interval.
A minor-sixth is not allowable within the same voice because it is a leap greater than a perfect-fifth and is therefore inexcusable ...
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Chris - you have many questions in a row, so I thought it easier to submit an answer rather than post several comments. To moderators, I apologize if this is cluttersome.
Here we go:
1.) You are correct, you did not in fact make that statement - I did not realize that you were quoting Cuthbert. I will expand upon this answer momentarily.
2.) The ...
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My original response was put in a comment, but as the question has now been reopened, I'll post the answer here:
The passage in question does not imply a I6/4 chord. It outlines a V chord. The "B" on beat two is an upper-neighboring tone and the "G" on beat three is a passing tone - what could be seen as a 4-3 suspension.
Also, an analysis of I6/4 is ...
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Question 1. I understand why in most cases the penultimate note of the counterpoint will be the leading tone, which must be raised in minor to establish a sense of tonality. But why is the leading tone in the Phrygian mode (E-E) the one exception. Even though it is a minor mode the seventh step of the scale is NEVER raised. Why?
This is an astute ...
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In traditional four-part harmony, adjacent voices may be up to a major-tenth apart at the widest possible range. It is preferential for them to remain an octave or less in distance, but octaves themselves are perfectly acceptable. The Tenor and Bass voice may be up to a perfect-twelfth part, though Bach certainly has broken this rule.
There are some Bach ...
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I originally posted in the comments, but since time has passed, I think it more appropriate to be shown below:
Hexachords are chords or pitch-class sets that contain six notes.
A hexachordal system refers to exactly what you outlined: use of the first six modes of the diatonic scale - which had been established long before Fux came and wrote his text. The ...
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In the older hexachordal system, mi refers to a note below a half step (like E below F or B below C) and fa refers to a note above a half step (like F or C in a white note system). So by changing F (which is a Fa) to F# he is temporarily making it a Mi. Think of Mi as like a leading tone with a tendency to move upwards. Fa had a tendency to move down, ...
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