Caccia

A form of 14th-century Italian poetry and music.  The text often deals with hunting and fishing scenes or with similar realistic subjects (a fire, cries of street vendors, etc.).  The musical form is a strict canon in two parts, the second usually beginning six or more measures after the first, which is followed by a ritornello that sometimes is also canonic.  The two "chasing" voices are usually supported by a tenor line in longer note values that does not imitate the canon melody.