Unlike the first volume, Modal Counterpoint. which deals with music of the pretonal era, The Principles and Practice of Tonal Counterpoint devotes itself to music during the eighteenth- and early nineteenth centuries (Bach through Beethoven) and touches on Romantic and Twentieth-Century music. It follows the species approach to tonal counterpoint. It studies the basic principles of contrapuntal music throughout the history of western music and how they are put into practice in various styles.