Tonal Counterpoint: In the Style of the 18th Century

In the early 1960s, Czech composer and conductor Vaclav Nelhybel prepared a series of lectures, produced by Folkways for Scholastic Records. The theme of this recorded lecture is tonal counterpoint, a musical style popular in the 18th century and beyond. Described as “the art of combining two or more melodic lines,” tonal counterpoint is not an easy compositional tool to master, but this lecture, narrated by William Geib, explains many of the concepts fledgling composers need to get started. Geib begins with such basics as rhythm and meter and continues to more technical concepts like diminution and retrograde musical canons. An unidentified chamber orchestra performs musical excerpts, and the detailed liner notes provide musical scores and written explanations of each musical concept.

Track Listing

101	Introduction	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	05:56
102	Melody	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	05:57
103	Melodic Outline: Motive-Sequence	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	12:38
201	Two-part Counterpoint: Intervals	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	04:30
202	Simultaneous Motion	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	01:52
203	Melody in Two-Part Counterpoint	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	02:53
204	Harmony in Two-Part Counterpoint	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	05:32
205	Imitation: Canon	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	10:05
301	Multiple (Interchangeable) Counterpoint in Two Parts	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	03:40
302	Double Counterpoint at the Tenth	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	01:50
303	Double Counterpoint at the Twelfth	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	03:55
304	Double Counterpoint at the Octave and the Tenth	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	02:46
305	Double Counterpoint at the Octave, Tenth and Twelfth	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	00:46
306	Contrapuntal Composition: Invention	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	03:33
307	Three-Part Counterpoint	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	08:25
401	Complementary Rhythm	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	01:21
402	Canon in Three Parts	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	02:49
403	Triple Counterpoint at the Octave	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	02:59
404	Four-Part Counterpoint	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	05:52
405	Interchangeable Counterpoint: Quadruple at the Octave	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	01:10
406	Canon	Vaclav Nelhybel, William Geib	03:07