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contrary motion

Two voices moving in opposite directions. The most independent, strongest motion.

Two voices moving in opposite directions, one climbing while the other descends. This is the strongest, most independent kind of motion, the opposite of the fusing you get from parallel lines, and good counterpoint leans on it. It keeps two voices sounding like two.

Learn it: Motion types

The one-sentence definition at the top is the same one the Theory Aide extension shows as a tooltip inside Ableton Live. Hover any dotted term for its own.