A canon is a musical composition technique built on strict imitation, in which a melody stated by one voice, called the leader, is repeated after a set delay by one or more other voices, called followers, that copy the same melody exactly or with a systematic transformation such as playing it upside down, backward, or in longer or shorter note values. Because every additional voice must fit correctly against the melody it is imitating, a canon is at once a compositional technique and a constraint the composer sets before writing a note. The simplest and most familiar form of canon is the round, in which every voice sings the identical melody starting at staggered times, as in singalong songs such as Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
Sources
Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationCanon (Music), Wikipedia summary leadQuote, Canon (Music), Wikipedia summary lead
In music, a canon is a contrapuntal (counterpoint-based) compositional technique that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration. The initial melody is called the leader, while the imitative melody, which is played in a different voice, is called the follower.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a musical canon differ from a fugue?
Both a canon and a fugue are contrapuntal techniques built on imitation, but a canon is stricter. In a canon, a melody stated by a leading voice is repeated exactly, or with a fixed systematic transformation such as inversion or reversal, by one or more following voices entering after a set delay, so every voice sings essentially the same line. A fugue is less rigid: after its subject is introduced and imitated by entering voices, the music develops that material more freely through episodes and further combinations, rather than requiring every later voice to restate the identical line.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.