What is imitation in counterpoint?

• A. A rhythmic ostinato
• B. A melodic idea repeated in another voice after a short interval
• C. A chromatic scale pattern
• D. A variation in tempo

Answer: (B)

Imitation in counterpoint is when a melodic idea stated in one voice is echoed by another voice after a short delay, creating a musical dialogue between the lines. The imitating voice usually enters at a different pitch, often a fourth, fifth, or octave away, so each voice retains its own shape while sharing the same motif. This technique helps unify the texture across voices and is a hallmark of polyphonic writing found in Renaissance music and in fugues, where the same idea keeps reappearing in succession.

This differs from a rhythmic ostinato, which repeats a pattern of rhythm in one voice rather than restating the melody in another voice. It also isn’t about a chromatic scale pattern, which would be a moving series of semitones, nor is it about tempo changes, which alter speed rather than how a motif is shared between voices.