counterpoint
The art of combining two or more independent melodic lines simultaneously.
In Depth
Counterpoint is the art of combining multiple independent melodies so they work together harmonically while maintaining their individual character. The word comes from the Latin punctus contra punctum — point against point, or note against note.
J.S. Bach is widely regarded as the greatest master of counterpoint. His fugues, canons, and inventions demonstrate an unparalleled ability to weave independent voices into a coherent whole. The study of counterpoint remains central to music education, and its principles underpin everything from Renaissance choral music to jazz improvisation and film scoring.
Bach's The Art of Fugue is so mathematically sophisticated that it has been studied by computer scientists — some of its canons work backwards, upside down, and at different speeds simultaneously.