This text investigates the fundamental rules and stylistic nuances of sixteenth-century vocal polyphony to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding modal counterpoint. Douglass M. Green, a respected music theorist, synthesizes historical pedagogical methods with modern analytical techniques. The book argues that mastery of counterpoint requires both a rigorous adherence to established voice-leading principles and an intuitive grasp of modal melodic construction. By examining the works of composers like Palestrina, the author establishes a systematic approach to writing and analyzing polyphonic music.

Experts and music educators frequently cite this work as a standard, foundational text for undergraduate music theory curricula. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a solid background in basic music theory to fully comprehend the technical instructions provided.