Counterpoint is ... What is counterpoint in music?

Presenting a modern society without music is absolutely impossible. It has become part of human existence. Music accompanies each step and is audible from everywhere. It can express joy and sorrow, triumph and fall, while - it is never superfluous. For those who like to relax or work under musical accompaniment, all the songs are just a set of melodies and voices. For those who chose music, music is a set of notes, chords, terms, techniques that create pleasant melodies.

Term meaning

Many of the musical terms are not familiar to those who have no musical education. One such counterpoint is counterpoint. This is not accidental, because the synonym of the word is the more famous term - polyphony. But what hides behind an unknown word?

Counterpoint is a polyphony in music, simultaneous sounding and a harmonious combination of several independent melodies. Thanks to this, the work becomes more voluminous and beautiful.

There was a term from the Latin punctus contra punctum, which literally means "point versus point". Adapting to the musical theme - "note against note". That is, another melody is added to the main theme, which repeats the basic voice rhythmically, but is slightly modified.

Origin of musical counterpoint

Counterpoint as a kind of musical art is known since the 14th century and came to replace the treble. All subsequent musical epochs are characterized by this style. The first used counterpoint in the music of Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina. In his compositions, the composer used several voices so that, in addition to contrasting with each other, they had different melodic forms.

Further development of the counterpoint is traced in the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. His work is characterized by a more developed polyphonic system. Melodic lines have more freedom, but the overall harmony of the whole work remains. Creativity composer is considered the period in which the most vividly developed counterpoint. This can also be said of the works of Georg Friedrich Handel.

Types of counterpoint

You can cite the classification that counterpoint has. This division into strict and free. In strict all the melodic voices had to have the right attitude to the bass melody. Free developed later and included both contrapuntal and harmonic rules.

Strict and free polyphony are divided into simple and complex. In a simple two or more melodies are combined without forming a new combination, unlike a complex one, which allows such formations.

A complex counterpoint has such discharges: mobile and reversible. In mobile voices are not changed, but only move. In the second case, there is an appeal or backlash of votes.

The musical counterpoint makes the sound multifaceted and vivid. But the term is known not only in music. He meets in the film industry, literature, helping to convey contrasts, making episodes more expressive.