Word: Enigmatical Canon
Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: An "enigmatical canon" refers to a type of musical composition that was common in the 15th and 16th centuries. In this kind of canon, the entrances (or starting points) of different parts of the music are marked by mysterious or cryptic symbols and devices. This means that the music is designed in a way that requires some puzzle-solving or interpretation to understand how the different parts relate to each other.
"The composer created an enigmatical canon that puzzled musicians for centuries, as they tried to decode its hidden symbols."
In more advanced discussions, you might encounter the term in the context of: - Musicology: The study of music history and theory. - Analysis of Renaissance music: Discussing how composers of that time used cryptic symbols to challenge their audiences and fellow musicians.
While "enigmatical canon" does not have specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly associated with it, you could use idioms related to mystery, such as: - "It's a puzzle." (Meaning something is confusing or difficult to understand.) - "Crack the code." (Meaning to solve a difficult problem or understand something complex.)
The term "enigmatical canon" describes a specific kind of music that is both complex and mysterious, encouraging listeners to engage deeply with its structure.