The musical canon is a set of high culture compositions or a contrapuntal type composition.
The musical canon is the set of compositions considered high culture that, due to their characteristics or quality, manage to cross borders and eras.
In the field of music, a piece that, of a contrapuntal type, is based on imitating two or more voices that are separated by a time interval, is also called canon.
The etymology
Before moving forward with the meaning of the concept, it is necessary to know the etymological origin of the two words that give it shape:
- Canon derives from the Greek kanon , which can be translated as “rule” or “measuring rod” .
- Musical , on the other hand, also comes from Greek. Exactly it comes from the sum of musike and the suffix -al , hence it can be translated as “relative to the muses” .
Johann Sebastian Bach is considered one of the main creators of musical canons.
Characteristics of the musical canon
The idea of canon is used to name a catalog or a list that usually brings together what is considered a model to follow. Musical , on the other hand, is what is related to music : the combination of harmony, rhythm and melody.
In the musical canon as a contrapuntal type piece, an instrumental or vocal part is responsible for the interpretation of a melody ; Several measures later, a second part appears that repeats said melody. This repetition can be exact or present some type of change, for example in tonality. The process , on the other hand, may involve the participation of other voices.
The first voice of the musical canon is called antecedent , proposal or dux . The voices that are added later are known as consequents , responses or comes .
There are multiple types of musical canon due to the enormous number of possible combinations. We can speak of spiral canon , circular canon , canon by decrease , canon by increase , double canon or unison canon , among others. The German Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is considered the main creator of musical canons.
Other information of interest
Other relevant aspects regarding the musical canon are the following:
- It is considered that the first musical canons appeared in the 13th century . They did it in countries such as Germany , England and France .
- One of the great first promoters of the musical canon was Guillaume de Machaut .
- It is considered that in the 17th century , at the hands of composers of the stature of the aforementioned Bach , the musical canon was completely developed, achieving its moment of maximum splendor.
- In addition to Bach , it is established that other great figures who became pillars of the success and development of the musical canon were composers of the stature of Ludwig van Beethoven, Jospeh Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart .
- In order to carry out the creation of a musical canon, several important steps must be taken. Thus, you must be very clear about the time signature in which you want to write it as well as the corresponding key. In the same way, you will also have to select the harmony and you must choose whether you want it to be instrumental or vocal.