Harmony &

Polyphonic Texture

 

~ Canons

 

Lesson(s) Sequence

 

1. Play Pachelbel's Canon in D as students take their seats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. A Canon also produces Harmony and has a Polyphonic Texture. 

 

Definition: A Canon is the same melody sung/played by more than one person but starting at different times.

 

     

3. An example of a simple Canon can be done with Row Row Row Your Boat.  As a class sing Row Row Row Your Boat as a Canon.

 

 

4. Many composers have used Canons to produce Harmony and Polyphonic Texture. The most famous of these is Pachelbel's Canon in D. 

    Look at a portion of the score below.  Notice how the melody (beginning in blue) starts at different times within the different violins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This video shows the same thing, but with an animated graph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Canons can also be found in popular culture.  This video is a deleted scene from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and... well, you

    should be able to hear the Canon.