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The Music Room => General Classical Music Discussion => Topic started by: orange on June 28, 2007, 02:32:54 AM

Title: Counterpoint books
Post by: orange on June 28, 2007, 02:32:54 AM
Hello!

I'm buying a book to learn counterpoint. I alreaady had counterpoint lessons. So, my teacher told me for Counterpoint in Composition; Felix Salzer, Carl Schachter.  I'm buying it from Germany, because for me it is the nearest internet store.

Here's the link: 
http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_ss_b/303-4395124-1329061?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Denglish-books&field-keywords=counterpoint+salzer&Go.x=12&Go.y=17&Go=Go

So, my question is which one of these books should I buy. There are also very different prices. If anyone can tell me why, what is the difference between.



Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: Haffner on June 28, 2007, 03:54:52 AM
Those are good, but get this one as fast as possible:


The Study of Fugue by Alfred Mann
Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: orange on June 28, 2007, 04:04:33 AM
Hi!

Thanks for advice. But still, can you tell me what is the difference between those books(my previous post) and why is such a big difference in preise?
Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: orange on June 28, 2007, 04:07:43 AM
I have already studied Fux's Study of counterpoint.
Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: Haffner on June 28, 2007, 04:08:16 AM
Quote from: orange on June 28, 2007, 04:04:33 AM
Hi!

Thanks for advice. But still, can you tell me what is the difference between those books(my previous post) and why is such a big difference in preise?





The books you posted are possibly meant to be current textbooks. Often, academically-centered textbooks are today expensive. Mann's Study of Fugue has many classic texts within, and for that reason may be considered passe by the mainstream Scholastic market today. However, anyone with any familiarity with the Mann text can tell of its tremendous quality. It's not just a classic, but an elite educative Classic.
Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: Norseman on June 28, 2007, 04:10:11 AM
No. 2 says "EUR 329,96"  ??? That can't be right... I have no. 1 which is a paperback, so my guess is that the other two are more expensive because they're not.. Still those prices are insane.
Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: Haffner on June 28, 2007, 04:10:29 AM
Quote from: orange on June 28, 2007, 04:07:43 AM
I have already studied Fux's Study of counterpoint.





The Albrechtsberger and Marburg texts are often just as good. You are aware of whom Albrechtsberger is?

Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: Mark G. Simon on June 28, 2007, 04:14:05 AM
The Salzer/Schachter book is very good, but more as a lead-in to Schenker theory.
Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: orange on June 28, 2007, 04:22:09 AM
Quote from: Haffner on June 28, 2007, 04:10:29 AM




The Albrechtsberger and Marburg texts are often just as good. You are aware of whom Albrechtsberger is?



I didn't know  Albrechtsberger until now. I just read something about him on wikipedia. Is it important to know something more about him?
Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: Norseman on June 28, 2007, 04:24:10 AM
Quote from: Mark G. Simon on June 28, 2007, 04:14:05 AM
The Salzer/Schachter book is very good, but more as a lead-in to Schenker theory.

True. I haven't really been able to study the book very closely yet, but it seems to be very Schenkerian (not a surprise btw, from these authors) and focus on showing how the rules of counterpoint also work on the 'middleground levels' etc in music that isn't usually considered that 'counterpointal'. But if I remember correctly, it opens with the usual species excersises à la Fux.
Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: orange on June 28, 2007, 04:26:44 AM
Quote from: Mark G. Simon on June 28, 2007, 04:14:05 AM
The Salzer/Schachter book is very good, but more as a lead-in to Schenker theory.

But you can still learn counterpoint from it, if I'm getting it right?
Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: Mark G. Simon on June 28, 2007, 05:10:22 AM
Quote from: Norseman on June 28, 2007, 04:24:10 AM
True. I haven't really been able to study the book very closely yet, but it seems to be very Schenkerian (not a surprise btw, from these authors) and focus on showing how to rules of counterpoint also work on the 'middleground levels' etc in music that isn't usually considered that 'counterpointal'. But if I remember correctly, it opens with the usual species excersises à la Fux.

This is correct. And if you're very self-motivated it gives you all you need to work on your own, making up your own excercises from a list of suggested canti firmi. Expect to go over each chapter many times before going on to the next.
Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: Haffner on June 28, 2007, 05:15:05 AM
Quote from: Mark G. Simon on June 28, 2007, 05:10:22 AM
This is correct. And if you're very self-motivated it gives you all you need to work on your own, making up your own excercises from a list of suggested canti firmi. Expect to go over each chapter many times before going on to the next.




Boy, that book sounds great!


Thanks, Mark.
Title: Re: Counterpoint books
Post by: orange on June 28, 2007, 05:25:24 AM
Thanks for advice! :D