The practice of

Renaissance improvisation

EXERCISES

4 voices with a 3/5 bassus - CF at the tenor

‍Roles 

• The tenor sings the cantus firmus 

The superius sings a gymel in 6ths above the CF 

The bassus sings alternating 3rds and 5ths below the CF 

The altus alternates 3rds and 4ths above the CF, in coordination with the bassus

Cantus firmus

level 2

On a pedagogical cantus firmus, singing with syllables

level 2

On a cantus firmus taken from the repertoire, in modern notation, singing with the words

level 3

On a cantus firmus taken from the repertoire, in early notation, singing with the words

Resources

Tutorials : Practical handbook, p. 78        Video tutorial

Notated cantus firmi : Practical handbook, p. 195

Historical notated examples : SuperLibrum database



Banking information

 

IBAN: FR76 1027 8024 0700 0226 7920 184

BIC: CMCIFR2A

Account name: SUPER LIBRUM

© 2026 superlibrum

Follow us on

Instagram @superlibrum
Facebook