Sequence (music)

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For the unrelated genre of Gregorian chant, see Sequence (poetry).

A sequence in music occurs when a given melodic or harmonic passage is successively repeated at different pitches (transposed). Sequences are either chromatic if exact or diatonic if they follow the scale being used, and may also be described as ascending or descending.

Typically this involves at least three instances, including the original statement. Although stereotypically associated with the music of Antonio Vivaldi, this device is widespread in music history. A well-known example of a diatonic sequence is the refrain from the Christmas carol "Angels We Have Heard on High" as illustrated below:

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