Canon
DEFINITION
Strict counterpoint in which each voice exactly imitates the previous voice at a fixed distance. A melody that can be sung against itself in imitation. Also called a round. 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. rigid contrapuntal form in which each voice is an exact copy of each other<br><br>A melody that can be sung against itself in imitation. Also called a round