Meaning of Cancrizans in Music
In music, **cancrizans** refers to a specific type of canon, also known as a retrograde canon. In this type of canon, the imitating voice repeats the notes of the theme in reverse order. The term "cancrizans" is derived from the Latin word "cancer," meaning crab, as the retrograde motion of the imitating voice resembles the sideways movement of a crab.
Cancrizans can be found in various musical compositions and is used as a compositional technique by different composers. For example, composers like Walter Piston, Adolph Weiss, Wallingford Riegger, and Roger Sessions have used cancrizans in their works One notable example is the second movement of Piston's Concerto for Orchestra, where continuous rapid string passages with an ostinato bass rhythm and a melody in the English horn are performed backwards as a recapitulation ).
The use of cancrizans allows composers to create interesting musical effects and variations by reversing the melodic material of the theme. It adds a unique and distinctive element to the composition, showcasing the composer's creativity and skill in manipulating musical structures.
Overall, cancrizans is a technique in music where the imitating voice repeats the notes of the theme in reverse order, creating a retrograde canon. It is used by composers to add complexity and variation to their compositions, showcasing their artistic expression and ingenuity.
Moving backwards; This typically refers to a figure or theme in retrograde.
In addition, you can familiarize yourself with the terms:
- [English] retrograde
- [English] crab motion
- [English] retrograde canon
- [German] Krebsgang
- [Latin] canon cancrizans
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