A musical composition in which the voices begin one after another, at regular intervals, successively taking up the same subject. It either winds up with a coda (tailpiece), or, as each voice finishes, commences anew, thus forming a perpetual fugue or round. It is the strictest form of imitation. See Imitation.

A contrapuntal piece of music in which the melody sung by one voice is repeated by others, each of them entering before the previous one has finished. A famous operatic example is the quartet s'appressan gl'isante in Verdi's Nabucco.

Composition or passage in which a melody is imitated by one or more voices at fixed intervals of pitch and time.

Musical procedure where a second voice is generated by following a rule (or "canon"). Usually the following voice imitates the leading voice at the unison, beginning at some specificed distance afterward. But the process can be far more complex: it can take place at any interval (imitation at the half step, for example), can involve several voices, and can even require them to go backwards or to invert each interval. The important thing is the strictness of following the rule. An example of complex canon, from Josquin's Missa Pange Lingua, is given on p. 93 of the book; other examples are the medieval canon Sumer is icumen in (see p. 82) and Pachelbel's famous canon (see p. 118).

A musical term that can be applied to dance indicating a composition in which two or more parts recur, repeat, or inter-related

(1) Strict imitation, in which one voice imitates another at a staggered time interval; (2) a piece that uses canon throughout, such as "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."

The method of composition for several voices in which different voices sing the same melody, one after the other, in either the same or different degrees of the scale.

Repeated, overlapping tune.

A musical device in which a melody is stated in one voice and then repeated by one or more other voices. The popular round, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, is a simple example.

The consecutive duplication of a spoken C-1 text (or analogous expletive musical structure) at any melodic interval.

a musical form that uses exact imitation

A contrapuntal form in two or more (voice or instrumental) parts in which the melody is introduced by one part and then repeated by the next (and so on) before each previous part has finished (i.e., such that overlapping of parts occurs).

a contrapuntal piece of music in which a melody in one part is imitated exactly in other parts

a composition made up of one theme which is repeated in all voices

a composition with strict counterpiont in which each voice exactly imitates the previous voice at a fixed distance

a counterpoint form, where all the voices have the same melody beginning at different times, and at the same or different pitch

a kind of musical closed-circuit, whereas a fugue opens out, expanding with new fantasy and invention as new material is added

a melody that sounds good when you play it on top of itself, a little bit out of sync

a musical form and compositional technique based on the principle of strict imitation, in which an initial melody is imitated at a specified time interval by one or more parts, either at the unison (the same pitch) or at some other pitch

a piece of music in which a single theme is repeatedly played

a piece of music that uses imitative counterpoint (see fugue )

a polyphonic composition in which one part is imitated by others in such a way that the successive entries of the melody overlap

a species of polyphonic composition in which all the voices are derived from a single melody begun in succession according to the instruction or "rule" (i

The !-- popup("cannon","CANNON"); //-- cannon made its first appearance during the 1300s in the popular caccia of the Medieval era. It was abandoned at the turn of the next century and reappeared with new popularity during the latter part of the 1400s. The new canon employed some interesting techniques. 1. Mensuration canons-several voices carrying the same melody at different rates of speed. 2. Retrograde canons-the melody is sung backwards. 3. Augmentation canons-the time values of the notes increase in the imitating voice. 4. Double canons-four parts with two different melodies, each canonically imitated. (55)

(music) a two or more part composition in which each part is identical to the other but each voice enters at different times. Rounds such as "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" are a type of canon.(dance) a single theme or movement sequence that is executed by two or more dancers at different times. The following are examples of dance canons. In these examples each number represents a dance movement or sequence of a given duration. For each pair of dancers, A and B a repetition of the same number represents the same movement or sequence. Left to right represents the passage of time. In each example numbers directly above and below each other represent movements taking place at the same time. (These examples also would apply to music, where the number represent musical phrases): Canon Example 1 Dancer A: 1234  5678 Dancer B:  1234  5678 Canon Example 2 Dancer A: 12345678 Dancer B:  12345678 Canon Example 3 Dancer A:  1234 Dancer B:  2341 Dancer C:  3412 Dancer D:  4123

similar to a round, in which each part enters in a specific sequence with the same melody until the piece is brought to a satisfactory end

a melody stated in one instrument and repeated exactly in others, like a round

a type of counterpoint where one musical phrase is played at the same time as itself at another interval in time, the first voice is called the antecedent and the second the consequent

a choreographic device or structure in which movements introduced by one dancer are repeated exactly by subsequent dancers in turn, e.g., Mexican wave

a piece for two or more voices or parts, in which the melody (or rhythm) introduced by the first part is exactly imitated by second (and subsequent) overlapping parts

the strictest form of imitation; an extended melody is imitated strictly in one or more other parts. Usually the imitation occurs at a relatively close distance(such as a measure apart, as in the Brahms motet discussed above, between the tenors and bass II (also sopranos and alto II); though in the Brahms motet discussed above, there is also a canon between the men's and women's parts, nine measures apart. The imitation must include the same intervals (major thirds must remain, for example, and not be changed to minor thirds, as is common in a fugue), but the actual pitches may vary. That is to say, the original melody might begin on B, but the imitation begins on C; moving from one pitch to the next, however, all original intervals are precisely maintained.

Similar to a "round" (like "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"): a melody is taken up, note for note, by alternating voices. The best-known classical work of this kind is the Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel.

"Rule". In counterpoint, a melody that is repeated exactly by a different voice, entering a short interval after the original voice.

Two or more parts that have the same melody but start at different points.

Type of composition in which one musical line strictly imitates another at a fixed distance throughout.

(Latin) "Rule." The strictest form of counterpoint. After the initial statement of a melody in one "voice," all subsequent "voices" must imitate that melody exactly (note for note), or with only minimal adjustments. The melody must be composed so that it sounds "correct" when played "against" itself. The imitatations may begin on the same pitch, or on another pitch (in which case all the notes will have to be "transposed" to maintain the integrity of the melody). Canons are usually part of larger works; perhaps the most renowned collection of canons is contained in J.S. Bach's Musical Offering. "Row, Row, your Boat" is a familiar example of a simple canon.

A piece where the same melody is used by everybody but each group starts at a different time and the parts overlap each other. eg.Frere Jacques, London's Burning

literally, "rule"; a technique in which one line is repeated in its entirety by another following a pre-established rule (e.g. "wait four beats then play the melody starting at the same pitch"). The instructions do not have to be written out--they can be left as a puzzle for the performer to solve.

piece of music in which everyone confusingly sings the same tune, but not at the same time, or even the same pitch

Strict imitative polyphony, with the identical melody appearing in each voice, but at staggered intervals; standard in vocal polyphony.

Choreographic form that reflects the musical form of the same name, in which individuals and groups perform the same movement/phrase beginning at different times.

The same melody sung or played by one or more parts, beginning one after another; all parts end together.

A melody that can be sung against itself in imitation. Also called a round.

A musical form in which a melody is imitated exactly in one or more parts. Similar to a round.

A passage, movement sequence, or piece of music in which the parts are done in succession, overlapping one another.

A polyphonic composition in which one part is imitated by one or more other parts that eventually overlap.

A choreographic form in which groups perform the same single theme or sequence at different times so that it overlaps.

Exact imitation of the melody in one voice by another, continued for more than one phrase. Best known example: a round.

A kind of counterpoint where one voice begins, followed by another voice singing the same tune. Like a round.

In music, a canon is a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration (e.g. quarter rest, one measure, etc.). The initial melody is called the leader, while the imitative melody is called the follower which is played in a different voice. The follower must be created from the leader by being either an exact replication of the rhythms and intervals of the leader, or a transformation such as those listed in "types of canons" (below).