Week 2 - Entry 1 in Learning Portfolio CANCTUS FIRMUS

 Cantus Firmus


Cantus Firmus Definition:  an existing melody used as the basis for a polyphonic composition often taken from a gregorian chant.

The term is most often associated with medieval and Renaissance music and represents a pre-existing melody used as the basis of a new composition, but it is also associated with the teaching of counterpoint.

A cantus firmus is vocal and not instrumental in nature. 


When you write a cantus firmus, you must write it naturally for the voice. 


I composed a Cantus Firmus with first species counterpoint. I would appreciate your thoughts. : musictheory


"I can play lots of things on my instruments that I can’t sing, but everything I can sing I can play easily on my instruments."



Being able to easily sing your cantus firmi is a good way to check your work.








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