First Episode

The first episode starts in measure 8 and ends in measure 12. Some interesting aspects in this episode:

• The subject (somewhat distorted) is presented by the soprano, beginning with a minor second and ending with a diminished third (a Neapolitan sixth chord, the Eb in the soprano).
• The subject is accompanied by the countersubject (in the bass). The countersubject uses inversion at the twelve (discussed in more detail below) in the first section (CS-a). The second section (CS-b) uses inversion at the eight. The original interval that joined the sections was a sixth, it is now a third and that is why the inversion interval changes.
• From measure 9 the alto doubles the soprano a lower sixth. The result is inversion at the tenth between alto and bass.
• The last notes of the subject are used on the next measures of the episode. Motive b1 in the soprano, motive b in the alto (changing the ascending sixth interval for a descending third) and the countersubject CS-b in the bass.
• In measure 12, the alto presents motive a transformed by inversion. It is in fact a false entrance.

Here is the discussed section:

Let's take a closer look at the invertible counterpoint. The seventh interval in measure 6 becomes a sixth in measure 8. The fourth inverts into a ninth. This signals an inversion at the twelve as you can see in the inversion tables:

Inversion at the twelve table

This interval:	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Inverts as:	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1

In measures 7 and 9 (bass and alto), the fifth interval inverts as sixth. This is inversion at the tenth:

Inversion at the tenth table

This interval:	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Inverts as:	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1

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© 2011 José Rodríguez Alvira. Published by teoria.com