equality of voices

Equality of voices: Prior to opus 20, the first violin, or, sometimes, the two violins, dominated the quartet.

Prima pratica was described as the previous polyphonic ideal of the sixteenth century, with flowing strict counterpoint, prepared dissonance, and equality of voices.

If equality before the law is to be an equality of voices then there are issues about formal procedures and the extent to which these are accessible to all.

The later works contain more evenly spaced imitation, and more equality of voices, and more smoothness of counterpoint than the earlier works.