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Traditional Harmony: Voice Motion
Retrieved 2011-09-15.
Parallel motion at an interval of a
An important example of similar motion is in
Contrary motion is important to maintain the independence of the melodic movement in contrapuntal writing.
If extended for enough time, the note that stays on the same pitch can be called a
music theory
Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory". The first is the "rudiments", that are needed to understand music notation (ke ...
, contrapuntal motion is the general movement of two melodic lines with respect to each other. In traditional four-part harmony
The term "four-part harmony" refers to music written for four voices, or for some other musical medium—four musical instruments or a single keyboard instrument, for example—for which the various musical parts can give a different note for ...
, it is important that lines maintain their independence, an effect which can be achieved by the judicious use of the four types of contrapuntal motion: parallel motion, similar motion, contrary motion, and oblique motion.Free-Ed.NeTraditional Harmony: Voice Motion
Retrieved 2011-09-15.
Parallel motion
Parallel motion is motion in the same direction, keeping the same interval between them. For example : :
Parallel motion at an interval of a perfect fifth
In music theory, a perfect fifth is the Interval (music), musical interval corresponding to a pair of pitch (music), pitches with a frequency ratio of 3:2, or very nearly so.
In classical music from Western culture, a fifth is the interval fro ...
is known as parallel or consecutive fifths
In music, consecutive fifths or parallel fifths are progressions in which the interval of a perfect fifth is followed by a ''different'' perfect fifth between the same two musical parts (or voices): for example, from C to D in one part along ...
, and at an interval of an octave
In music, an octave ( la, octavus: eighth) or perfect octave (sometimes called the diapason) is the interval between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been refer ...
is known as parallel or consecutive octaves. These motions are generally avoided in traditional counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more musical lines (or voices) which are harmonically interdependent yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour. It has been most commonly identified in the European classical tradi ...
because they offer the lines so little independence from each other.
Similar motion
Similar motion is motion in the same direction, but with the interval between them changing. In other words, both lines move up, or both lines move down, but the interval between them is different in the first chord and the second chord. For example : :
An important example of similar motion is in horn fifths
In music, consecutive fifths or parallel fifths are progressions in which the interval of a perfect fifth is followed by a ''different'' perfect fifth between the same two musical parts (or voices): for example, from C to D in one part alon ...
.
Contrary motion
Contrary motion is motion in opposite directions. That is, when one of the lines moves up, the other line moves down (that is, ininversion
Inversion or inversions may refer to:
Arts
* , a French gay magazine (1924/1925)
* ''Inversion'' (artwork), a 2005 temporary sculpture in Houston, Texas
* Inversion (music), a term with various meanings in music theory and musical set theory
* ...
). If the voices always move by the same intervals
Interval may refer to:
Mathematics and physics
* Interval (mathematics), a range of numbers
** Partially ordered set#Intervals, its generalization from numbers to arbitrary partially ordered sets
* A statistical level of measurement
* Interval e ...
(in opposite directions) they are said to be in strict contrary motion.
The following example shows two voices in contrary motion :
:
Contrary motion is important to maintain the independence of the melodic movement in contrapuntal writing.
Oblique motion
Oblique motion is motion of one melodic line while the other remains at the same pitch. For example : :
If extended for enough time, the note that stays on the same pitch can be called a drone
Drone most commonly refers to:
* Drone (bee), a male bee, from an unfertilized egg
* Unmanned aerial vehicle
* Unmanned surface vehicle, watercraft
* Unmanned underwater vehicle or underwater drone
Drone, drones or The Drones may also refer to:
...
.
Similar and oblique motion provide less independence than contrary motion, but more than parallel motion.
See also
*Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more musical lines (or voices) which are harmonically interdependent yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour. It has been most commonly identified in the European classical tradi ...
*Voice leading
Voice leading (or part writing) is the linear progression of individual melodic lines ( voices or parts) and their interaction with one another to create harmonies, typically in accordance with the principles of common-practice harmony and counte ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Contrapuntal Motion Counterpoint Harmony de:Bewegung (Kontrapunkt) fr:Mouvement harmonique