countertheme

In music, a counter-melody (often countermelody) is a sequence of notes, perceived as a melody, written to be played simultaneously with a more prominent lead melody. In other words, it is a secondary melody played in counterpoint with the primary melody.

: a theme or thesis controverting another theme or thesis.

A vivacious melody might be countered by a more solemn and slow one. A good example of the contrasting counter melody is found in Bach's famous setting of the chorale melody "Wachet auf, ruft uns die stimme" in his Cantata 140.

Simultaneously sounding notes called harmony bring support and context to the melody. Harmony can be heard as countermelody, where there is interplay between two melodies that create harmony, or as chords, which are made from multiple notes played at the same time.

Definition: A counter-example to an argument is a situation which shows that the argument can have true premises and a false conclusion.

In digital logic and computing, a counter is a device which stores (and sometimes displays) the number of times a particular event or process has occurred, often in relationship to a clock.

It entered Old French sometime in the 1300s as contoeur (from comptoir), and was used to describe the table where sales and banking occurred, where things were counted by a counter. The counter (person) used the counter (object) to count upon.

In typography, a counter is the area of a letter that is entirely or partially enclosed by a letter form or a symbol (the counter-space/the hole of). The stroke that creates such a space is known as a "bowl". Latin letters containing closed counters include A, B, D, O, P, Q, R, a, b, d, e, g, o, p, and q.

If you chose "Standard" rules: If the counter-melody is above the given melody, then the last note of the counter-melody should be in the tonic chord. If the counter-melody is below the given melody, then the last note of the counter-melody should be the tonic or third of the tonic chord.

The simplest rule of thumb in creating countermelodies is this: when the melody is sustained, you move your line. When the melody moves, you sustain your line. The countermelody will always be heard second behind the melody because the melody is usually stated first.

3 Different Types of Harmony in Music

• Diatonic harmony. This is music where the notes and chords all trace back to a master scale.
• Non-diatonic harmony. Non-diatonic harmony introduces notes that aren't all part of the same master scale.
• Atonal harmony.

Harmony and counterpoint can be confusing for music students to distinguish at first. This is because counterpoint is a form of harmony, however it is a compositional technique in its own right. While techniques forming two note chords and beyond can be classed as harmony, counterpoint is more specific.