CONTRAPUNTAL • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Contrapuntal

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Contrapuntal

adjective

Relating to or characteristic of or according to the rules of counterpoint.

Having two or more independent but harmonically related melodic parts sounding together. Synonym: polyphonic.

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Etymology of 'Contrapuntal'

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"Contrapuntal" Quotes from Famous Books

... when such puerility was disturbing this cradle of freedom and cacophony, Bach and Haendel were at work in their contrapuntal webs, the Scarlattis, Corelli and Tartini and Porpora were alive. Peri, Josquin and Willaert and Lassus were dead, and the church had had its last mass from the most famous citizen of the town of Palestrina. Monteverde was no longer inventing like an Edison; Lulli had gone to France and died; and ...

— Contemporary American Composers • Rupert Hughes

... was entrusted with, was the ending of the old scandal brought upon the Church by the elaborate lengths to which contrapuntal composers had gone in using popular melodies, and often even street songs of an obscene nature, as a foundation melody or cantus firmus for their vocal gymnastics. The churchmen of that day did in a more elaborate fashion what Wesley did in his day and the Salvation Army in ours for ...

— The Love Affairs of Great Musicians, Volume 1 • Rupert Hughes

... and instrumental music have been written in contrapuntal style. The familiar two- and three-part "inventions" by Bach are excellent examples of instrumental counterpoint, while such choruses as those in "The Messiah" by Handel illustrate the ...

— Music Notation and Terminology • Karl W. Gehrkens

... criticisms were clear and forceful, and filled with many surprising and humorous touches. Of Bach he said, 'Bach spoke in close, scientific, contrapuntal language. He was as emotional and romantic as Chopin, Wagner or Tchaikovsky; his emotion was expressed in the language of his time. Young women who say they adore Bach play him like a sum in mathematics. They ...

— Edward MacDowell • Lawrence Gilman

Words linked to "Contrapuntal" : music, monophonic, counterpoint, polyphonic