Canon for Four Voices

One line heard in layers

A canon asks singers to keep their own place while hearing the same musical idea elsewhere. This edition’s historical text is part of that task: agree on the printed words rather than silently substituting another familiar version. The texture should reveal the entrances without making the first singer permanently dominant.

Rehearse the joining points

Begin with two voices and listen to the moment when the second joins the first. Add the others when the pulse stays secure. Try speaking the text in the same staggered order before singing it. This makes overlapping consonants easier to hear and gives every singer a reason to listen beyond the individual line.

Music in this edition

1. Canon for Four Voices