A Treatise on Simple Counterpoint in Forty Lessons

by Friedrich J. Lehmann

The Imperfect consonances are the Major and Minor Thirds and Sixths. [[Fig. 2b].]

All other intervals are dissonances.

Fig. 2.

A Diatonic progression is one in which both name and pitch are changed. [[Fig. 3a].]

A Chromatic progression is one in which the pitch is changed a semitone, while the name remains the same. [[Fig. 3b].]

Fig. 3.

Progression from one chord to another is called Harmonic progression; from one tone to another, Melodic progression.

In melodic progression all major, minor, perfect and diminished intervals are allowed except the major and minor seventh. The minor seventh may, however, be used when harmony does not change (a). [[Fig. 4.]]

Fig. 4.

In counterpoint there are Five Species, or orders. When the counterpoint has one note for each note of the cantus firmus, it is of the First Species (a); if it has two notes for each note of the cantus firmus, it is the Second Species (b); if four notes, the Third Species (c); if two notes syncopated, the Fourth Species (d); and a mixture of these species is the Fifth Species, or Florid Counterpoint (e). [[Fig. 5.]]