Canon

Baroque works

Definition

A contrapuntal form in which a melody is imitated by one or more voices entering at fixed time intervals, each voice following the same melodic line throughout.

Historical Context

Canon is among the oldest contrapuntal devices, used from the Medieval period onwards. Pachelbel's Canon in D (c.1680) for three violins and basso continuo became one of the most recognised pieces in the Western repertoire. In keyboard music, canons appear as independent pieces and as movements within larger works.

Works (24)

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