A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Contrary Motion

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A Dictionary of Music and Musicians
edited by George Grove

Contrary Motion by Hubert Parry

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From volume 1 of the work.

1503899A Dictionary of Music and Musicians — Contrary MotionGeorge GroveHubert Parry

CONTRARY MOTION is the progression of parts in opposite directions, one or more ascending while the other or others descend, as—

${ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \cadenzaOn \relative g' << { g1 a2 b \bar "|" c1 \bar "||" <e g>4 <f d> <e c> <d b> <e c> <f d> \bar "|" <g e>1 \bar "||" } \\ { g,1 f2 d c1_\markup { \halign #-6 \smaller or } <c e>4 <d f> <e g> <f aes> <e g> <d f> <c e>1 } >> }$

In contrapuntal music it was considered preferable to similar or oblique motion, and it always has a stronger and more vigorous character than either of these. Many conspicuous examples of its use in modern music may be found, as for instance in the slow movement of Beethoven's Symphony in C minor—

${ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \time 3/8 \key aes \major \partial 8 \relative d'' << { <d f>16 <f aes> | <aes c>8 <aes c>16 <g bes> <f aes> <ees g> | <d f>8 <d f>16 <ees g> <f aes> <g bes> | <aes c> <g bes> <f aes> <ees g> <d f> <ees g> | <f aes> <g bes> <aes c> <aes c> <g bes> <f aes> | <ees g>4 \bar "||" } \\ { <c aes>16 <aes f> | <f d>8 <d f>16 <ees g> <f aes> <g bes> | <aes c>8 <aes c>16 <bes g> <aes f> <g ees> | <f d> <g ees> <aes f> <bes g> <c aes> <bes g> | <aes f> <g ees> <f d> <d bes> <ees c> <f d> | <g ees>4 } >> }$

Passing notes are allowed to progress continuously by contrary motion until they arrive at notes which form a part of some definite harmony ( * ), as—

${ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \time 4/4 \key bes \major << \relative e''' { ees8 f ees d c bes a g | f ees d c bes a g^"*" f | <f d'>4 \bar "||" } \new Staff { \clef bass \key bes \major \relative f, { r8 f g a bes c d ees f g a bes c d ees_"*" d <d bes>4 } } >> }$

from the first movement of Beethoven's Sonata in B♭, op. 106.

[ C. H. H. P. ]