Back in the day when I read Gradus Ad Parnasum by Johann Joseph Fux, which was ostensibly an attempt to create teach the style of Palestrina. It's a great text, and I'd highly recommend it to people interesting in learning counterpoint.

But like many music theory texts, it presented a stylized version of music rules that weren't really followed by composers.

Later, I read Counterpoint: The Polyphonic Vocal Style of the Sixteenth Century by Knud Jeppesen. This was similar in approach to the teaching style laid out by Fux, but was modeled on the actual music of Palestrina.

I plowed my way through it, but finally realized the obvious - you really need to know the style and idioms before learning how to compose in the style.

Since I tend to listen to more "classic" rock than 16th century counterpoint, I finally gave up that dream. Plus, there's a lot to learn! But still, if you're interested in learning the style, it's an excellent text.

Still, lovely music! laugh

-- David Cuny
My virtual singer development blog

Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?