At the end of December 1930, Nino Rota travelled to the United States of America where he was accepted at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia upon the recommendation of Arturo Toscanini. One year later, he composed Four Canons: four short compositions the lyrics of which are based on Italian love poems from the 15th and 16th centuries. The madrigal-like style of the unison canons testifies to an innovativeness which goes far beyond a simple study work.