John Weeks Moore

“ Before Bevin's time, the precepts for the composition of canons were known to few. Tallis, Bird, Water-house, and Farmer were eminently skilled in this most abstruse part of musical practice. Every canon, as given to the public, was a kind of enigma. ”

“ A briefs and short Instruction of the Art of Musicke, to teach how to make discant of all proportions that are in use; very necessary for all such as are desirous to attain to knowledge in the Art ; and may, by practice, if they sing, soon be able to compose three, four, and five Parts, and also to compose all sort of Canons that are usually by these directions, of two or three Parts in one upon the plain Song. ”