BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Counterpoint and Fugal Analysis 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following describes 'melodic inversion' as applied to a fugue subject?
- The subject is played backwards from its final note
- Every ascending interval becomes a descending interval of the same size, and vice versa (Correct answer)
- The subject is transposed down an octave
- The rhythmic values are reversed while pitches remain the same
Correct answer: Every ascending interval becomes a descending interval of the same size, and vice versa
Melodic inversion (also called contrary motion) flips all intervals around a central pitch so that rising motion becomes falling motion and vice versa.
Question 2: In fifth species (florid) counterpoint, what distinguishes it from the other four species?
- It uses only consonances on every beat
- It freely combines note values and ornamental figures from all previous species (Correct answer)
- It requires strict parallel motion throughout
- It is written only for three or more voices
Correct answer: It freely combines note values and ornamental figures from all previous species
Fifth species combines half notes, quarter notes, ties, and ornamental figures from species 1–4, producing a flowing, decorative melodic line.
Question 3: A fugue subject that contains a leap from scale degree 1 to scale degree 5 most commonly requires a tonal answer because:
- Leaps of a fifth always require modification in tonal music
- Answering the leap literally would emphasize the dominant of the dominant, destabilizing the home key (Correct answer)
- The countersubject cannot accommodate a real answer at the fifth
- Baroque convention demanded tonal answers for all ascending subjects
Correct answer: Answering the leap literally would emphasize the dominant of the dominant, destabilizing the home key
A leap from 1 to 5 answered literally at the fifth (5 to 2) would imply a modulation, so the answer modifies 5-to-2 as 5-to-1, keeping the tonal center stable.
Question 4: Which Baroque composer is most closely associated with the systematic demonstration of fugal technique in 'The Well-Tempered Clavier'?
- George Frideric Handel
- Johann Sebastian Bach (Correct answer)
- Arcangelo Corelli
- Heinrich Schütz
Correct answer: Johann Sebastian Bach
J.S. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier (Books I and II) presents 48 preludes and fugues in all major and minor keys, serving as a cornerstone of fugal study.
Question 5: In strict counterpoint, which type of motion is always permitted between any two voices regardless of the resulting interval?
- Similar motion
- Parallel motion
- Oblique motion (Correct answer)
- Contrary motion
Correct answer: Oblique motion
Oblique motion, where one voice remains stationary while the other moves, is always permitted because it creates no risk of parallel perfect intervals.
Question 6: The 'countersubject' in a fugue is characterized by which property that makes it useful throughout the work?
- It modulates to the relative minor at each appearance
- It is designed for invertible counterpoint so it works above or below the subject (Correct answer)
- It uses only consonant intervals with the subject
- It augments the subject's rhythm by a factor of two
Correct answer: It is designed for invertible counterpoint so it works above or below the subject
A well-designed countersubject employs invertible counterpoint (usually at the octave) so it can accompany the subject in any voice without producing forbidden parallels.
Question 7: When analyzing a fugue, a 'middle entry' differs from the exposition entries primarily because:
- Middle entries always appear in inversion or augmentation
- They occur in related keys other than the original tonic and dominant (Correct answer)
- They require all voices to enter simultaneously
- They use the answer form exclusively, never the subject
Correct answer: They occur in related keys other than the original tonic and dominant
Middle entries typically explore related keys (relative major/minor, subdominant, mediant) to provide tonal variety between the exposition and final section.
BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Counterpoint and Fugal Analysis 4
Which of the following describes 'melodic inversion' as applied to a fugue subject?