circular canon
noun
1
: a musical canon (see canon entry 1 sense 6) whose subject (see subject entry 1 sense 3f) leads back to its own beginning so that it may be endlessly repeated
called also circle canon, infinite canon, perpetual canon
2
: a musical canon (see canon entry 1 sense 6) in which the repetitions modulate through a circle of fifths (see fifth entry 2 sense 3a)
Word History
First Known Use
1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1