Musical Terms

[Joy]

I know this isn't a 'musical class' site but I would like to know (in easy, layman's terms), what does contrapuntal and counterpoint mean? In my reading I've come across these words quite often, have looked them up even, but don't quite understand them.
Thanks in advance.
Joy

[Chris]

Well, counterpoint is basically when you have two (or more) melodies being played at the same time. The melodies fit together, but you can still tell they are seperate melodies.

[Peter]

The term contrapuntal applies to much of J.S. Bach and earlier music (i.e Baroque) which is also refereed to as Polyphonic - several parts of equal melodic interest combined. A good example of contrapuntal music is a fugue.

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'Man know thyself'

[Joy]

Thanks guys. That helps.
Joy