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Canons

A canon is a musical piece in which two or more parts are the same, up to some transformation.

Two-Part Canon with Free Bass

Here is a simple canon in which the upper two parts are identical, except that the second part starts one measure after the first part.

score, recording

Performers: Rob Bocchino (Baroque violin), Sonia Lee (harpsichord).

Composed in 1999.

Diverse Canons on an Eleven-Note Subject

These pieces are inspired by the canons BWV 1087 by J.S. Bach. As with the Bach canons, these pieces can be scored for any instruments.

  1. Canon by Inversion, Subject in Bass: score, synthesized audio

  2. Double Canon: score, synthesized audio

  3. Double Canon by Inversion: score, synthesized audio

  4. Canon by Inversion and Augmentation: score, synthesized audio

  5. Double Canon by Retrograde: score, synthesized audio

  6. Double Canon by Retrograde Inversion: score, synthesized audio

  7. Canon by Inversion and Retrograde: score, synthesized audio

These canons use the following transformations:

  • Inversion: One part is the same as the other one upside down.

  • Retrograde: One part is the same as the other one backwards.

  • Retrograde inversion: One part is the same as the other one upside down and backwards.

  • Augmentation: One part is the same as the other one after lengthening every note by the same factor.

A double canon is a canon in which two pairs of parts are the same.

Composed in 2020-21.

Canonic Setting of Gloria Patri et Filio

This is a canonic setting of the traditional prayer Gloria et Patri et Filio. The entire piece is based on a single tune. It is in three sections: two three-part canons and a six-part canon. Also of note:

  • The six-part canonic setting of et in saecula saeculorum (and in the ages of ages), with its repetition of the same material in different voices, paints a musical picture of “forever and ever.”

  • The tune uses six of the seven scale degrees. The omitted scale degree is the sixth degree.

score, synthesized audio

Composed in 1999; revised in 2025.