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49 Voice Leading

Types of Motion

Definitions must be set out regarding types of motion between two parts.

  • Contrary motion occurs when the two voices move in opposite direction to each other by step or leap.
  • Oblique motion occurs when one voice stays the same and the other voice moves up or down by step or leap.
  • Similar motion occurs when both voices move in the same (or “similar”) direction—both up (by step or leap) or both down (by step or leap); similar motion is also called “direct” motion

  • Parallel motion is a specific type of similar motion and occurs when both voices move in the same direction by the same interval—both up by step, or both down by a third.

This illustration shows visually what the text above it describes with words in terms of contrapuntal motion.
Figure 26.2.1. The four types of motion.
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