Florid is a fancy way of saying "massive combo of second, third, and fourth species plus some
eighth notes for fun."
- If you're gonna use eighth notes, you have to use them like this:
- On the first beat, a quarter note which is not only a dissonance but was also prepared in the previous measure by a half note.
- As an upper neighbor of the quarter note, an eighth note.
- The dissonance repeated as an eighth note.
- The resolution of the dissonance to a chord tone as a quarter note.
- And then, finally, a quarter note which can be any of the acceptable tones by the previously stated standards.
- In the measures with eighth notes, dissonance resolution always on the beginning of the second half of the measure.
- In this species in two parts and speaking rhythmically, unless the half note is the prep for a dissonance, two quarters followed by a half is a no no.
- Likewise, the same rhythmic pattern should never be used in two successive measures. We gave you those eighth notes for a reason, son!
- The first measure's harmony must be tonic. When the counterpoint is in the upper part it has to be the tonic. In the lower part it can be the 5th.
- Parallel 5ths and octaves must be seperated by a whole measure.
- And finally, in the measure before last you can use a rhythmic pattern of quarter, two eighths, quarter, two eighths if you gotta. Ya don't have to but if it helps get you out of a jam don't feel guilty.