Specie Do’s Don'ts1st specie

(Whole note against each note.)• Contrary and oblique motion should be employed as often as

possible.• More imperfect than perfect consonances should be employed.

• Enter a perfect consonance (an octave, unison, or fifth) by mean of direct motion.

2nd specie(Two half-notes against each whole note.)

• The first half-note in each bar must be consonant with the cantus firmus.

• The second half-note in a bar may be dissonant, but only if it is approached and left by a step.

• Use an interval of 5, 6, or 8 as a closing formula if the cantus firmus is above; and an interval of 5, 3, or 1 if the cantus firmus is below.

• Use fifths or octaves on the downbeat of successive measures if the intervening note leaps by an interval of a third or less.

• Use two successive fifths or octaves if they are intervened only by a skip of a third.

3rd specie(Four quarter notes against a whole note.)

• The first note of each bar must be consonant with the cantus firmus.

• Use either a cambiata formula, 8, 7, 5, 6, 8; or with a scale run, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 as closing formulas if the cantus firmus is below and close as 3m, 5, 4, 3m, 1 if the cantus firmus is above.

• Make the second, third, or fourth notes dissonant. (Except if they are step-wise passing notes between two consonant notes.

4th specie(Two half-notes against a whole note; the first of which must occur on the up beat,

the second on the downbeat.)

• Use consonance on the second half-notes in each bar.• Resolve by a downward stepwise movement if the preceding

note is dissonant.• Separate the half-notes as in second species if no ligature is

possible. Return to ligature as soon as possible.

• Use dissonant ligatures resolving to an octave or a unison in successive bars.

5th specie(Also called “florid”, consists of the

combination of the first four species.)

• Take care to write a singable melodic line.• Make use of oblique motion and syncopation.• Use an interval of 7, (tied to the previous bar), 6, 8 when closing

if the cantus firmus is below; and 2 (tied to the previous bar), 3m, 1 if the cantus firmus is above.

• Use two eight-notes on the first and third beats of a measure.

SPECIES COUNTERPOINT DO’S AND DON’TSIn partial fulfillment for Strict Counterpoint class 2015-2016