Canon

A contrapuntal composition in which a melody is imitated exactly by one or more voices entering in succession.

About Canon

In a canon, the leading voice (dux) states a melodyMelodyA sequence of single pitches perceived as a coherent musical line.View full entry →, and one or more following voices (comes) enter after a set time delay, reproducing the melody exactly or with systematic modifications. Common types include the round (canon at the unisonUnisonTwo or more voices or instruments sounding the same pitch simultaneously or playing the same melody.View full entry →, such as "Frère Jacques"), canon at the octaveOctaveThe interval spanning eight diatonic scale degreesView full entry →, canon at the fifthFifthThe interval spanning five scale degrees, most commonly the perfect fifth.View full entry →, retrograde canon (melody played backwards), and augmentation canon (melody in longer note values).