Listening Quiz Counterpoint

Composer and Lifespan: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Year Written: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131

1826

Counterpoint Strategies: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131

fugal imitation, dramatic modulation

Movement: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131

I. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo

Composer and Lifespan: Elijah “He Watching Over Israel”

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Year Written: Elijah “He Watching Over Israel”

1846

Counterpoint Strategies: Elijah “He Watching Over Israel”

expanded harmonic language, imitation, stretto

Composer and Lifespan: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 11

Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)

Year Written: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 11

1847

Counterpoint Strategies: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 11

imitation, motivic development

Movement: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 11

II. Andante espressivo

Composer and Lifespan: Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Year Written: Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel

1861

Counterpoint Strategies: Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel

augmentation, stretto, intertwined contrapuntal textures

Composer and Lifespan: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 17 

Clara Schumann (1819-1896)

Year Written: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 17 

1846

Counterpoint Strategies: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 17, I. Allegro moderato

fragmented themes

Counterpoint Strategies: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 17, III. Andante

delayed intervalic entrances

Movements: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 17 

I. Allegro moderato, III. Andante

Composer and Lifespan: Mass No. 2 in E minor 

Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)

Year Written: Mass No. 2 in E minor 

1866

Counterpoint Strategies: Mass No. 2 in E minor

imitative counterpoint, variations, modulation

Movements: Mass No. 2 in E minor 

I. Kyrie III. Credo

Composer and Lifespan: Symphony of Psalms, K52

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Year Written: Symphony of Psalms, K52

1930

Counterpoint Strategies: Symphony of Psalms, K52

syncopation, modal scales, polytonality

Movement: Symphony of Psalms, K52

II. Expectans expectavi dominum

Composer and Lifespan: Prelude and Fugue in D minor, Op. 87, No. 24

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Year Written: Prelude and Fugue in D minor, Op. 87, No. 24

1951

Counterpoint Strategies: Prelude and Fugue in D minor, Op. 87, No. 24

augmentation, inversion

Composer and Lifespan: Symphony No. 1 in E minor

Florence Price (1887-1953)

Year Written: Symphony No. 1 in E minor

1932

Counterpoint Strategies: Symphony No. 1 in E minor

spiritual melodies, antiphonal writing

Movement: Symphony No. 1 in E minor

IV. Finale, presto

Composer and Lifespan: War Requiem

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Year Written: War Requiem

1962

Counterpoint Strategies: War Requiem

dissonance, textural contrast

Movement: War Requiem

Libera Me

Composer and Lifespan: Violin Concerto No. 1 “Offertorium”

Sofia Gubaidulina (1931-2025)

Year Written: Violin Concerto No. 1 “Offertorium”

1980

Counterpoint Strategies: Violin Concerto No. 1 “Offertorium”

microtonality, extended instrumental techniques, fragmentation

Composer and Lifespan: Different Trains

Steve Reich (b. 1936)

Year Written: Different Trains

1988

Counterpoint Strategies: Different Trains

reinterprets fugal writing within a minimalist framework

Movement: Different Trains

America - Before the War

Composer and Lifespan: Chichester Psalms

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)

Year Written: Chichester Psalms

1965

Counterpoint Strategies: Chichester Psalms

rhythmic counterpoint, syncopation, jazz-inspired harmonies

Movement: Chichester Psalms

23 — Adonai Ro-i

Composer and Lifespan: Requiem for String Orchestra

Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996)

Year Written: Requiem for String Orchestra

1957

Counterpoint Strategies: Requiem for String Orchestra

imitative counterpoint, overlapping lines

Composer and Lifespan: Such Sweet Thunder

Duke Ellington (1899-1974)

Year Written: Such Sweet Thunder

1957

Counterpoint Strategies: Such Sweet Thunder

antiphonal writing, imitation

Composer and Lifespan: Giant Steps

John Coltrane (1926-1967)

Year Written: Giant Steps

1959

Counterpoint Strategies: Giant Steps

sequencing, rapid harmonic changes

Composer and Lifespan: The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

Charles Mingus (1922-1979)

Year Written: The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

1963

Counterpoint Strategies: The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

syncopation, canon

Movement: The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

Mode D: Trio and Group Dancers

Composer and Lifespan: Shadows and Light

Joni Mitchell (b. 1943)

Year Written: Shadows and Light

1979

Counterpoint Strategies: Shadows and Light

layers of voices

Composer and Lifespan: Our Mutual Friend

The Divine Comedy/Neil Hannon (b. 1970)

Year Written: Our Mutual Friend

2004

Counterpoint Strategies: Our Mutual Friend

gradual vocal layering

Composer: God Only Knows

The Beach Boys

Year Written: God Only Knows

1966

Counterpoint Strategies: God Only Knows

complex harmonies, interwoven lines

Composer and Lifespan: Sir Duke

Stevie Wonder (b. 1950)

Year Written: Sir Duke

1976

Counterpoint Strategies: Sir Duke

staggered entries, syncopation, antiphonal writing

Composer and Lifespan: Vespertine

Bjork (b. 1965)

Year Written: Vespertine

2001

Counterpoint Strategies: Vespertine

fugal, polyphonic texture

Movements: Vespertine

Pagan Poetry, Unison

Composer and Lifespan: Central Market

Tyondai Braxton (b. 1978)

Year Written: Central Market

2009

Counterpoint Strategies: Central Market

electric and acoustic interplay, fragmentation

Movements: Central Market

Opening Bell, Uffe’s Workshop, The Duck and the Butcher, Platinum Rows, Unfurling, J. City, Dead Strings

Composer and Lifespan: The Mission

Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)

Year Written: The Mission

1986

Counterpoint Strategies: The Mission

contrapuntal lines, canon, fugue

Movements: The Mission

Falls, Gabriel’s Oboe

Composer and Lifespan: Star Wars: Main Title 

John Williams (b. 1932)

Year Written: Star Wars: Main Title 

1977

Counterpoint Strategies: Star Wars: Main Title 

counter-melodies, fugal entries

Composer and Lifespan: The Shape of Water

Alexandre Desplat (b. 1961)

Year Written: The Shape of Water

2017

Counterpoint Strategies: The Shape of Water

rich modulation, subtle dissonance

Composer and Lifespan: Lord of the Rings

Howard Shore (b. 1946)

Year Written: Lord of the Rings

2001

Counterpoint Strategies: Lord of the Rings

fugues, modes

Composer and Lifespan: Caroline, or Change

Jeanine Tesori (b. 1961)

Year Written: Caroline, or Change

2003

Counterpoint Strategies: Caroline, or Change

staggered voices

Movement: Caroline, or Change

1943

Composer and Lifespan: A Little Night Music

Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021)