Final answer:
Although not one of the options, a simple type of canon is called a round, not a melody, sonata, symphony, or overture. Canons feature in the Renaissance period, particularly in madrigals. From the given choices, 'melody' is the closest but it refers generally to a tuneful sequence of notes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A simple and more familiar type of canon in music is called a round. While this term is not provided in the multiple-choice options, a round is a musical composition in which two or more voices sing the same melody but start at different times. Each voice begins at different intervals, creating a harmonious and layered texture. Canons were greatly developed during the Renaissance, often based on secular forms such as the madrigal. Madrigals would frequently feature the two higher voices in canon above an instrumental bass line.
Despite the term round not being an option, to answer the multiple-choice question correctly, you would choose (a) Melody. However, this is a technical misnomer as 'melody' refers to the sequence of notes that is musically satisfying and doesn't specifically denote the type of canon. In a musical context, a sonata is a composition for an instrumental soloist, a symphony is a substantial orchestral work, and an overture is the introductory music for an opera or a ballet, none of which are types of canons. Therefore, out of the given options, the closest is 'melody', although this is not the exact term for a type of canon.