third species

noun

variants or third-species counterpoint

: species counterpoint in which the added voice consists of four notes for each note of the cantus firmus

… there is therefore no reason for treating triple time before the following exercises in third species.

—Knud Jeppesen, Counterpoint, 1930

see species counterpoint compare first species, second species, fourth species, fifth species, unequal counterpoint

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

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Rhymes for third species

• subspecies
• interspecies
• multispecies