A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Proposta

PROPOSTA (Lat. Dux; Eng. Subject). A term applied to the Leading Part, in a Fugue, or Point of Imitation, in contradistinction to the Risposta, or Response (Eng. Answer; Lat. Comes). The Leading Part of a Canon is usually called the Guida, though the term Proposta is sometimes applied to that also.

[ W. S. R. ]