circular canon

noun

1

: a musical canon (see canon entry 1 sense 6) whose subject (see subject entry 1 sense 3f) leads back to its own beginning so that it may be endlessly repeated

called also circle canon, infinite canon, perpetual canon

2

: a musical canon (see canon entry 1 sense 6) in which the repetitions modulate through a circle of fifths (see fifth entry 2 sense 3a)

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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