Canon - a contrapuntal compositional technique that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played at various measured intervals of time. The term originates from the Greek kanon, which literally means "ruler" or "a measuring stick." Figuratively, kanon also refers to "a standard," "rule," or "law." Through the 18th century the word used to describe strict imitation was "fuga", and only in the 16th century did the word "canon" begin to be used to describe the musical...