MUS 4113: Composition with Contrapuntal Techniques, section 001
Mondays and Wednesdays 3:30-4:45pm, 2.03.14 ARTS
Dr. David Heuser
Office: 3.02.20
Office Phone: 458-5321
email: dheuser@utsa.edu
Office Hours: TBA, or by appointment

Required Textbooks and Materials (always bring to class):

Kennan, Kent, Counterpoint (forth edition), with workbook
staff paper, pencils (not pens)

Click here for the reserve list for this course

Course Description:
Composition with Contrapuntal Techniques is designed to give the student an understanding of contrapuntal principles through a survey of composition techniques and styles from the 16h Century through the 20^th Century, with particular emphasis on 18^th Century counterpoint. The class will incorporate analysis, composition and performance.

Goals of the Course:
After going through this course, the student should develop an understanding of contrapuntal elements, techniques and terminology as they apply to music composition and performance.

Grading:
Final grades will be determined by three quizzes (17% of your final grade each) and two written assignments (12% of your final grade each), a final project (20% of your final grade), and homework and class participation (5% of your final grade).

Course Policies:

Attendance and punctuality are essential to this course. If a student is absent more than 8 times for any reason during the semester, I may, at my discretion, assign a final grade of F for the course. Two tardies will equal one absence; being late by more than 15 minutes will count as an absence.

ALL absences and tardies count. Due to my inability to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate excuses, I choose not to deal with them (excuses, that is). The two absences you are allowed (a week of classes) are expected to be legitimate (why would you not come to class if you were able?). The only exception to this policy would be a case of prolonged forced absence, such as would be caused by a serious injury requiring hospitalization, or the like. In these cases, documentation is required (of course); otherwise, I do not wish to be shown doctor's notes, letters from funeral directors or mechanic's bills.

Make-up Work: Students are expected to make up all work missed. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the notes from a classmate. I am willing to meet with you and discuss the course material only after you have taken appropriate steps to get caught up on your own.

Make up exams for scheduled exams will be allowed only if notice is given prior to the scheduled time.

Class Deportment: Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. To assure all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class, students are prohibited from engaging in any form of distraction. Inappropriate behavior in the classroom shall result, minimally, in a request to leave the class. Examples of inappropriate behavior include the use of cellular phones or beepers, eating in the classroom, prolonged chattering, excessive tardiness, sleeping, and overt inattentiveness.

Cheating: Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. All infractions will be reported to Student Judicial Affairs and prosecuted to the maximum extent allowed by the university. Any work you hand in is expected to be your work and your work only; claiming someone else’s work as your own is cheating.

If you have a concern, problem, question, issue or whatever, the best thing you can do is talk to me about it (in person, on the phone or through email). Stay in touch!

Schedule

Week

Topics

Week 1, January 12, 14

Topics: Review contrapuntal terminology from Analysis I; Examine a two part invention

Reading: Kennan: Chapter 1: Introduction, pp. 1-4 &

Kennan: Chapter 10: The Two-Part Invention; Motivic Development

Homework: analyze two part invention (F major)

No Class Monday, January 19 (MLK day)

Week 2, January 21

Topics: Melodic writing

Reading: Kennan: Chapter 2: Single line melody, pp. 5-18

Homework: melody writing

Week 3, January 26, 28

Topics: Two Voice Counterpoint (overview and 1:1); Species Counterpoint overview

Reading: Kennan: Chapter 3: Principles of Two-Voice Counterpoint, pp. 19-33 &

Kennan: Chapter 4: Two Voice Excercises, 1:1, 2:1: pp. 35-38 &

Gauldin: A Practical Guide to 16^th Century Counterpoint, pp. 278-280 &

Gauldin: A Practical Guide to 18^th Century Counterpoint, pp. 47-48

Homework: Workbook, p. 3 (all)

Week 4, February 2, 4

Topics: Two Voice Counterpoint continued (1:1 and 2:1)

Reading: Kennan: Chapter 4: Two Voice Exercises, 1:1, 2:1: pp. 38-48

Homework: Workbook, p. 9, #1; p. 11, 1a and 1b; p. 12, 5 and 7a.

Week 5, February 9, 11

Topics: Two Voice Counterpoint continued (1:1 and 2:1)

Wednesday, February 11: Quiz #1 (Diatonic 2:1 writing)

Week 6, February 16, 18

Topics: Two Voice Counterpoint continued: Chromaticism, 3:1 and 4:1

Reading: Kennan: Chapter 5: Chromaticism (Two Voices), pp. 50-59 &

Chapter 6: Two-Voice Exercises (Concluded), pp. 60-78

Homework: Workbook, p. 17, 5 and 1; p. 19, 1

Project 1 assigned – Two part invention

Week 7, February 23, 25

Topics: Two Voice Counterpoint continued

Homework: Workbook, p. 25, 4; p. 30 (all)

Week 8, March 1, 3

Topics: Canon

Reading: Kennan: Chapter 8: Canon, pp. 91-114

Homework: canon writing

Project 1 due March 1

Week 9, March 8, 10

Topics: Canon continued

Wednesday, March 10: Quiz #2 (2:1, 3:1, 4:1, with chromaticism; canon)

Project 2 assigned - Canon

SPRING BREAK – March 15-19

Week 10, March 22, 24

Topics: Invertible Counterpoint

Reading: Kennan: Chapter 9: Invertible Counterpoint, pp. 115-125 &

Kennan: Chapter 11: Three-Voice Counterpoint, pp. 145-162

Homework: invertible counterpoint; workbook, p. 48, 1 and 3 or 4

Week 11, March 29, 31

Topics: Three voice counterpoint; Fugue

Reading: Chapter 13: Imitation in Three Voices, pp. 170-184 &

Kennan: Chapter 15: Fugue, pp. 202-218

Homework: Subject writing; Countersubject writing

Project 2 due March 29

Week 12, April 5, 7

Topics: Fugue

Reading: Kennan: Chapter 16: Fugue (continued), pp. 220-236

Homework: Episode writing

Final Project assigned - Fugue

Week 13, April 12, 14

Topics: Fugue

Reading: Kennan: Chapter 17: Fugue (concluded), pp. 238-248

Homework: fugue diagram

Week 14, April 19, 21

Topics: 20^th Century Applications

Reading: web site: http://members.aol.com/fuguesite/history1.htm, history 2.htm, history3.htm…etc. to history7.htm

Monday, April 19: Quiz #3 (fugue)

Week 15, April 26, 28

Topics: 20^th Century Applications

No Final Exam: Final Project will be due by 1:30pm, Thursday, May 6, 2004