Musicological, computational and conceptual aspects of first-species counterpoint theory

TL;DR

This paper revisits and expands upon a 1989 musicological model of first-species counterpoint, integrating mathematical theory with variations to provide new perspectives on Mazzola's principles.

Contribution

It reconstructs and extends Mazzola and Muzzulini's counterpoint model, offering diverse variations and insights into the mathematical and conceptual foundations of first-species counterpoint.

Findings

Recreated the original 1989 counterpoint model

Proposed several variations of the model

Provided a comprehensive summary of mathematical counterpoint theory

Abstract

We re-create the essential results of a 1989 unpublished article by Mazzola and Muzzulini that contains musicological aspects of a first-species counterpoint model. We include a summary of the mathematical counterpoint theory and several variations of the model that offer different perspectives on Mazzola's original principles.