Editing Contrapuntal motion

{{Short description|The movement of two melodic lines with respect to each other}}
In [[music theory]], '''contrapuntal motion''' is the general [[Melodic motion|movement]] of two or more [[melody|melodic lines]] with respect to each other.{{sfn|Laitz|2012|p=51}} In traditional [[four-part harmony]], it is important that lines maintain their independence, an effect which can be achieved by the judicious use of the four types of contrapuntal motion: parallel motion, similar motion, contrary motion, and oblique motion.<ref>Dan Gutwein, "[http://www.dangutwein.net/courses/theorytxt/text/4-part.htm The Basics of Four-Part Chorale Style]", ''DanGutwein.net''. Retrieved 1 November 2012.</ref><ref>Free-Ed.Net [http://www.waybuilder.net/sweethaven/Humanities/Music/TraditionalHarmony/default.asp?iNum=0102 Traditional Harmony: Voice Motion]. Retrieved 2011-09-15.</ref>

==Parallel motion <span class="anchor" id="Parallel motion"></span>==
{{seealso|Parallel harmony}}
'''Parallel motion''' is motion in the same direction, keeping the same interval between them. For example {{audio|ParallelMotion.mid|Play}}:
:[[File:ParallelMotion.png|none|400px]]
Parallel motion at an interval of a [[perfect fifth]] is known as parallel or [[consecutive fifths]], and at an interval of an [[octave]] is known as parallel or consecutive octaves. Perfect intervals, i.e. the (perfect) unison, fifth and octave, are generally avoided in traditional [[counterpoint]] because they offer the lines so little independence from each other.{{sfn|Laitz|2012|pp=52, 113}}

In [[Counterpoint#First species|first-species counterpoint]], it is recommended to limit parallel thirds or sixths to three consecutive uses of a given intervallic size.{{sfn|Laitz|2012|pp=52, 55}} 

Chords between which all [[Factor (chord)|factors]] or voices move in parallel motion are called ''parallel chords''.{{sfn|Benward|Saker|2009|p=358|loc="Parallel chords"}} This motion is called [[Planing (music)|planing]].{{sfn|Benward|Saker|2009|p=14}}

==Similar motion==
'''Similar motion''' is motion in the same direction, but with the interval between them changing. In other words, both lines move up, or both lines move down, but the interval between them is different in the first [[chord (music)|chord]] and the second chord. For example {{audio|SimilarMotion.mid|Play}}:
:[[File:SimilarMotion.png|none|400px]]

An important example of similar motion is in [[horn fifths]].

==Contrary motion==
'''Contrary motion''' is motion in opposite directions. That is, when one of the lines moves up, the other line moves down (that is, in [[Melodic inversion|inversion]]). If the voices always move by the same [[interval (music)|intervals]] (in opposite directions) they are said to be in strict contrary motion. 

The following example shows two voices in contrary motion {{audio|ContraryMotion.mid|Play}}:
:[[File:ContraryMotion.png|none|400px]]
Contrary motion is important to maintain the independence of the melodic movement in contrapuntal writing as it creates the most independence between voices.{{sfn|Laitz|2012|p=52}}

==Oblique motion==
'''Oblique motion''' is motion of one melodic line while the other remains at the same pitch. For example {{audio|Oblique.mid|Play}}:
:[[File:Oblique.png|none|400px]]
If extended for enough time, the note that stays on the same pitch can be called a [[drone (music)|drone]].

Similar and oblique motion provide less independence than contrary motion, but more than parallel motion.

==See also==
*[[Counterpoint]]
*[[Melodic motion]]
*[[Voice leading]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book
 |last1=Benward |first1=Bruce
 |last2=Saker   |first2=Marilyn
 |year=2009
 |title=Music in Theory and Practice
 |volume=II
 |edition=Eighth
 |location=New York
 |publisher=McGraw-Hill
 |isbn=978-0-07-310188-0
}}
* {{cite book
 |last=Laitz |first=Steven G.
 |year=2012
 |title=The Complete Musician: An Integrated Approach to Tonal Theory, Analysis, and Listening
 |edition=Third
 |location=New York
 |publisher=Oxford University Press
 |isbn=978-0-19-974278-3
 |url=https://archive.org/details/the-complete-musician-steven-g-laitz
 |url-access=registration
}}
{{refend}}

{{Counterpoint & polyphony}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Contrapuntal Motion}}
[[Category:Counterpoint]]
[[Category:Harmony]]

[[de:Bewegung (Kontrapunkt)]]
[[fr:Mouvement harmonique]]