Species Counterpoint Checker

This software is designed to take in 2 part counterpoint and evaluate if the music provided follows the rules of counterpoint

Format for the input file:

The input file should be comprised of three lines. The first line should be the key signature represented by: <Value> <Accidental> <Minor/Major>

For the <Value> and <Accidental> fields see the pitch section. An Uppercase M signals a major key and a lowercase m signals a minor key.

For the bottom two lines, the top line should be the melody and the bottom line should be the Cantus Firmi.

The input for a single note comprises of three parts: <length> <beat> <pitch>

Length is the time value of the note. This is not needed for first species or the Cantus Firmi. It follows the American system:

1 = whole note/semibreve
2 = half note/minim
4 = quater note/crotchet

any other inputs are invalid

Beat refers to the beat in a bar that the note lands on. This mostly applies to fourth and fifth species counterpoint, so for first to third species this value can be omitted.

Pitch of a note comprises of three parts: <Value> <Accidental> <Octave>

The value of a note is the note letter (from A-G) and must be written using captial letters.

The accidental of a note refers to if the note has been raised or lowered by a semitone. Lowercase b is used to represent a flat, # is used to represent a sharp, lowercase d can be used to represent a natural if needed.

The program will work out the key signature, so if a note has an accidental ruled by the key signature, it does not matter if you put the corresponding accidental next to the note. In theory an accidental should last for a whole bar, this applies here as well.

For example if the key signature was F# Major, both F and F# will be regarded as the value of F#

The octave of a note is a number that refers to the octave a note is in. Middle C has an octave number of 4.

It is generally advised that the pitch values stay between A2 and G5, but the program allows input from A0 to C8.

Rests can be inputted with an R but only at the beginning of a melodic line. These will automatically default to a minim rest - this value cannot be changed.

Each note should be separated with a coma. Spaces and pipes (|) are ignored and can be used for formatting (ie. note spacings and barlines respectively). Here are some examples of input files:

First Species (note the ommited beat and length values):

CM
E4, F4, D5, E5
C3, D3, G2, C3

Second Species (note the omitted beat values and the use of flats):

BbM
R, 2D4, | 2Eb4, 2G4, | 2C4, 2A4, | 1Bb4
B2,     | C3,        | F3,       | B2

Fifth Species:

TBD

Maybe one day I can make the input process easier...

Usage:

Run the program using: cat <file.txt> | java Run <species>

Where <file.txt> is the input file and <species> is a value from 1-5 depending on the type of counterpoint you wish to check.

Things that are checked for:

• Parallel and Direct Octaves/5ths
• Consonance in the voices
• The melodic line and skip rules
• Crossed Voices
• Exceptions (ie cambiatas)

To Do's

• Literally everything, this is a work in progress lol