In the first third of the 18th century, ground-laying theoretical treatises on composition and harmony were written. Jean-Philippe Rameau completed his treatise Le Traité de l'harmonie réduite à ses principes naturels (the theory of harmony reduced to its natural principles) in 1722 which supplemented his work of four years earlier, Nouveau Système de musique theoretique (new system of music theory); these together may be considered the cornerstone of modern music theory relating to consonance and harmony. The Austrian composer Johann Fux published in 1725 his powerful treatise on the composition of counterpoint in the style of Palestrina under the title Gradus ad Parnassum (The Steps to Parnassus). He outlined various types of counterpoint (e.g., note against note), and suggested a careful application of the fourth so as to avoid dissonance.
in The fIrst Third of tHe 18Th CEntURy, GrOund-LayInG THeoretIcaL TreATisEs on coMpositIoN anD harmony WeRE wRitten. jean-PHiLipPe rAmEau COmPleted hIS treAtisE lE TraitÉ de l'harmonIE réDuitE à SEs priNciPes NaturELs (ThE tHeory of HArmony rEducED To Its nAtURAl prInciPlES) iN 1722 which supPlementeD hIs WoRk oF fOuR yEars earLIeR, nOUVeau SysTÈmE de musique tHEOretIqUE (neW systEM of MuSic TheORy); tHEse tOgeTHer maY be COnsidERed tHE cornerSTonE of mODERN mUSic tHEory ReLating tO consOnAnce ANd HaRmoNy. tHe austrian composer jOhanN Fux puBLished In 1725 his powErFUl TreaTiSe on the compoSiTIoN Of CouNterPOInt iN tHe styLe oF pAlEStrina undEr THE tItLe grAduS ad PaRnassum (thE STEps tO parnassuS). he outlined variouS tYpes Of cOunterPoInt (E.g., nOTE AGAInst noTE), And suggeSted a CaREFuL apPlicAtIon oF the fourTh so as To avOiD diSsonance.