What is a canon in music? Is this not one of the main questions that people who are genuinely passionate about music and its origin ask themselves? Very often in everyday life we find the expression “According to strict canons” or use the word “canonical”, meaning that the thing or creature that we are talking about is exemplary and obeying strict rules. But what does canon mean in music? Let's look at this interesting concept in this article and analyze its origin, typology and use in music.
Canon - what is it?
Translated from Greek, "canon" means a model, something that can be considered an example to follow. The canon in music is a slightly narrower concept: a play designed for many voices that will perform the same melody, but at the same time enter from one and the same or different sounds.
Speaking in a more understandable language, then this is a musical play that is built on constant imitation. This is the canon. Its definition is diverse, but a special form and variety of this concept in music is an endless canon, where a melody can go from end to beginning and be repeated an infinite number of times. Moreover, there is more than one type of canon, each of which sounds unique. The main condition in the performance of such music is that the melody played by the first voice must be repeated identically to each sound.
Where did the canon in music come from?
The canon in music is a form that Western Europe can be proud of without creating a conscience, because it was from there that this concept and the form itself came from. This type of music is distinguished by both a complex sound design and an emotionally rich and full form. This form originated in the era of polyphony in Europe, but continued to develop in the next seven centuries, and its role does not decrease with the development of modern music. Of course, this term has undergone significant evolution during its existence when creating music.
Initially, the canon existed under one meaning, in modern music this concept denotes a slightly different form. That is why this term is used to refer to several eras of its development, dividing it into classical and modern.
Etymology and typology of the canon
The Greek word κανών (canon) means "rod, ruler, bar"; "some item serving as a measure." Another meaning is “rule, measure, norm or pattern”. In addition to the Greek definition, this designation refers to the monochord, known as the instrument of the sages. It is because of this tool that canons were called supporters of the mathematical-philosophical definition in the creation of music.
Byzantine music enshrined this term as a form of church music. This type of music consists of nine odes, in which the second part is mostly absent or the eighth and ninth songs are skipped. A little later, the Byzantine canon switched to Russian music and retained its original structure.
Catholics began to call this definition the part of the words in the prayer masses Te igitur after Sanctus. This part of the mass is not subject to any modification, and that is why the name “canon” appeared in Catholic masses.
There are such types of canons as simple, derivative, infinite, triple, double and menzural. All of them are somewhat similar to each other, but still have some differences.
Special form of canon
In European music, such a special branch as polyphony has developed. The polyphonic canon in music is a special form of the canon that arose during the powerful upsurge of polyphonic thinking. With polyphony, a continuous imitation of sounds is performed, while sounds are transmitted from one instrument or voice to another. Thus, polyphonic thought plunges into the dimension of music that is inside it. Polyphony is an aesthetic effect that cannot be described in words.
The canon in music is a rather funny trick, in which there is absolute adherence to the melody, and not the general rule. When performing this branch in music, one of the voices starts the melody, then the second picks it up and completely repeats the melody without bringing any changes. A third one joins two voices, repeating the already given melody in full. This way of playing music sounds natural and unobtrusive. Polyphony reached a special rise in its popularity in the 2000s when polyphonic melodies were put on the ringing sound on the phone .