Solutions to monthly puzzle canons
2016
January 2016
February 2016
March 2016
Samuel Capricornus (1628-1665), Canon a 6 (1659)
Solution
Okay, yes, every two measures sound the same once it gets going, as with a round. However, it is an unusual concept: a 6-in-1 canon done as a contrary-motion double canon. A vocal score is here as a PDF.
Friedrich Kuhlau (1786-1832) Double retrograde canon
Solution
Each measure of the upper staff appears again an octave below in the following measure in the lower staff but in retrograde.
François-Joseph Gossec (1734-1829) Retrograde canon written like a crayfish
Solution
With the last note of the enigmatic score the piece reverses!
April 2016
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1732-1791) Kanonisches Adagio
Solution
The top voice begins a fifth above the first note of the upper notated voice but progresses in contrary motion to the original.
May 2016
G. Hofmann () Canon: Da pacem Domine in diebus nostris
Solution
The clefs give the amount of rest and pitch of each successive entry.
June 2016
Francisco de Montanos (1528-1595) Canon: Enigma con quarto claves
Solution
The clefs indicate entries on G, D, A and E, each entry a fifth above the last one..
July 2016
Canons by F. J. Haydn and Albrechtsberger from the winter of 1806-7:
Solatium miseris
Solution
The order of the clefs in these printed versions of the canons are misleading. The textual clues provide the correct order of entries.
It seems that in order to lift the spirits of his ailing friend, wrote an invertible canon, inviting Albrechtsberger's rejoinder. While A. may just as well have written back to his friend, acknowledging the fact, he inverted each pair of voices and re-locked the canon. Much more fun, don't you think?
August 2016
Albrechstberger, 1753
Dona nobis pacem
Solution
A much younger Albrechstberger wrote this 'Dona nobis pacem.'
On the right a much different solution on a slightly-changed puzzle.
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September 2016
Jean Mouton, ca 1520, from Motetti Novi
En venant de Lyon
Solution
There are many performances of this piece by Jean Mouton. I apologize that I did not include the text here.
October 2016
Fasch, ca 1750, found in Kirnberger's treatise "Kunst in des reinen Satzes in der Musik"
Canon quadruplex for 8 voices
Solution
Fasch, ca 1750, found in Kirnberger's treatise "Kunst in des reinen Satzes in der Musik"
Canon quadruplex for 8 voices
Solution
November 2016
Jean Mouton, ca. 1520, from Motetti Novi
qui ne regrettoit le gentil Févin
Solution
December 2016
Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654), from Canons Aliquot (imslp)
Canon contrarius in 5 [at the fifth] Cantio sacra.
Solution
This is based on the first line of the hymn "Vater unser im Himmelreich" by Martin Luther. Scheidt also wrote organ variations on the theme.
