A practical approach to sixteenth-century couterpoint

The author emphasizes acquisition of writing skills in the contrapuntal discipline and the simulation of sixteenth century sacred polyphonic idioms in this volume. The author follows a didactic method of a "non species or direct" approach. While no previous contrapuntal training is necessary to absorb this material, some acquaintance with Baroque polyphonic terminology proves helpful. Key features include: musical examples illustrating specific devices taken from musical literature or composed by the author; demonstration of the possibility of employing a single given pitch series within the contexts of different compositional techniques; a collection of complete or excerpted movements drawn from musical literature at the conclusion of each major textual division; emphasis of Palestrina and the Counter Reformation sacred style; discussion of various compositional procedures of the late Renaissance, including paraphrase, cantus firmus, familiar style, parody, polychoral technique, and chromaticism.