In music or composition, a bass line or melodic line that opposes or contrasts with another bass line; opposite foundation.
From counter- + base (from Italian basso, referring to the lowest musical part). This is a musical and compositional term, relatively rare in modern usage.
Bach was a master of counterbase—he'd write two or three bass lines that seemed to fight each other harmonically but created mathematical beauty, influencing centuries of composers who tried to capture that same 'controlled chaos' he achieved.
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