Imitation
A device in counterpoint; a musical phrase being given by one voite is immediately repeated by another voice.
There are many varieties of imitation: (I) By augmentation, when the imitating part is in notes of twice or four times the value of those in the theme. (2) Ry diminution, when the value of the notes is reduced onehalf or one-fourth. (3) By inversion, when the intervals are given by the imitating part in inverted order. Imitation is called Canonic when the order of letters and intervals is exactly repeated, thus :- CDEF GABC Strict, when the order of letters only is repeated, as :- CDEF ABCD Free, when the theme is slightly altered, but not enough to destroy the resemblance.
The theme is called the antecedent; the imitation, the consequent. There are other varieties of imitation, but they are now generally obsolete, being more curious than musical.