The Crab Canon, from J. S. Bach Musical Offering

In music, a 'crab canon' (also called a 'retrograde canon' or 'canon cancrizans') is a canon in which the imitating voice repeats the notes of the theme in reverse order.

(A canon is a piece of music in which two or more voices, or instrumental parts, sing or play the same music starting at different times.) The word "cancrizans" is derived from the Medieval Latin word "cancrizāre" which means "to move crabwise".

Johann Sebastian Bach's Crab Canon, the first of the ten canons in his The Musical Offering, is probably the most famous example of a crab canon. In The Musical Offering the Crab Canon is listed as "Canon Number 1, a2."

Composed in 1747, The Musical Offering, BWV 1079, is a collection of keyboard canons and fugues and other pieces of music by Johann Sebastian Bach, all based on a single musical theme given to him by Frederick the Great (Frederick II of Prussia), to whom they are dedicated. The trio-sonata section is written for flute, violin, and basso continuo. But there is no indication as to what instruments should be used for the other sections; however, many musicologists believe that solo keyboard should be used. The Musical Offering is one of J. S. Bach's most famous works.

The music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) is one of humanity's greatest treasures. It is unsurpassed in its expression of profound reverence for life, and in its depth and diversity of ideas and feelings. It provides boundless joy to listeners and performers.


Tutorial

Sheetmusic


Ricercar a 3 Part 1 Part 2 Sheetmusic