Imitation

In music imitation is the act of repeating a melody, theme or motif but with variation in voice by way of transposition, inversion, etc., however in each repetition, the character of the melody, theme or motif stays the same. The first presentation of the theme is called the antecedent. The answer is called the consequent, and is often a different pitch from the antecedent. Usually the antecedent continues while the consequent is coming in, and the consequent need not imitate the antecedent exactly, but may vary the tune slightly. Imitation is used quite a bit in canons and fugues as well as being similar to the call and response musical pattern found in Sub-Saharan African cultures.<br>