Logic & Counterpoint

vivies, on 30 January 2012 - 10:19 AM, said:

I think you used too much exclamation marks. You aren't right because you yell. And you seem to press the argument that since the exception on the rule makes things better/unique/whatever, the exception becomes the rule. Which is just absurd

I think what is important to remember is that: firstly; the 'rules' of counterpoint are a classical example of theory following practice. Nobody just decided one day that parallel fifths and unprepared dissonances would henceforth be 'wrong' for all eternity; they simply codified what was generally happening already in vocal writing. There is a practical reason for observing these guidelines, as independent intervals are physically easier to sing than parallel ones (massive generalisation I know, but it was probably true to the 16th century ear). Secondly, as a student one learns these 'rules' precisely because they have been so well codified and so present a starting-point to develop a more individual voice later. Most choral music will observe the principles of this style if it is well-written, even though specific rules may be disregarded.

I heard a few people saying that about independent intervals - parallel fifths in particular; but I think I'm missing something: parallel 8ves or unisons are, obviously, easy to sing, and, as far as I know, singing in parallel perfect intervals was basically the deal back in ye olden days. From personal experience, when I started to do solfa singing, I inexplicably found it difficult to not pitch my starting note a perfect fourth above the one that was played (and I'd even sing the correct intervals, afterwards). Apparently, that's a thing: lots of people automatically sing along with a line in parallel fourths or fifths without even knowing it, initially.


Basically, my original intent for the thread was to see whether all departures from standard voice-leading were heard as problems, and not merely seen as them. I later read about some stuff written by Brahms and Bruckner that basically answered this question in the negative.