What is a Canon?

A canon is a type of contrapuntal composition in which a melody is imitated by one or more voices at a fixed time interval after its first statement. The imitating voices follow the same melodic contour, creating overlapping lines that move together harmonically.

In a canon, the initial melody, called the leader or dux, is followed by one or more followers or comes, which enter after a set number of beats or measures. The imitating voices may be exact, transposed to a different pitch, or rhythmically altered, depending on the composer’s design.

Canons are widely used in Baroque music, choral works, and pedagogical exercises to teach contrapuntal technique. Famous examples include “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” as a simple round and J.S. Bach’s intricate contrapuntal works, which often employ strict canonic imitation to create complex, interwoven textures.