Suggested Learning Resources
3) Online Reading: ArsNova Lesson http://www.ars-nova.com/CounterpointStudy/fourthspecies.html
- Fourth species counterpoint is defined by the appearance of several suspensions
that are tied over the barline.
- For the most part, it is a type of note against note counterpoint, except
the counterpoint line is “offset” from the cantus line. At times, a chain (succession)
of suspensions will be broken.
- Since there are usually several suspensions (all resolving downward),
fourth species counterpoint tends to have an overall downward motion to the exercise.
Objective 14.1: Identify the main characteristic of fourth species counterpoint