Of the Definition, Diuision, and difference of the names of the Counterpoint.
NIcomachus the Musitian saith, That the Art of Musicke was at first so simple, that it consisted of a Tetrachord. And was made with the voice Assa, that is, one Voyce alone (for Assa the An∣cients called alone, whereof it is called Vox assa, when it is vt∣tered with the mouth, not adding to it other Musicall Con∣cents, wherein the praises of the Ancients was sung, as Phil. Beroaldus wri∣teth in the Tenth booke of his Commentary vpon Apuleius. Yet by the meanes of diuers authors, the Tetrachord from foure Cords grew to fifteen. To which the after-ages haue added fiue and sixe Voyces, and more. So that a Song in our times hath not one voyce alone, but fiue, sixe, eight, and sometimes more. For it is euident, that Ioannes Okeken did compose a Mot∣tet of 36. Voyces. Now that part of Musick which effecteth this, is called of the Musitians, the Counterpoint. For a Counterpoint generally, is nothing else than the knowledge of finding out of a Song of many parts. Or it is the mother of Modulation, or (as Franchinus lib. 3. cap. 1. writes) it is the Art of bending founds that may be sung, by proportionable Dimension, and mea∣sure of time. For, as the clay is in the hands of the Potter; so is the making of a Song in the hands of the Musitian. Wherefore most men call this Art not the Counter-point, but Composition. Assigning this difference of names, and saying, that Composition is the collection of diuers parts of Harmony by diuers Concords. For to compose is to gather together the diuers parts of Harmony by diuers Concords. But the Counter-point is the sodaine, and vn∣expected ordering of a plaine Song by diuers Melodies by chance. Whence Sortisare signifies to order a plain Song by certain Concords on the sodaine. Now it is called Counterpoint (as Bacchus saith) as it were a concordant Con∣cent of Voyces set one against another, examined by Art.