rondo

Typical tonal structure of classical seven-part rondo, late 18th & early 19th centuries.^[1]

Rondo and its French part-equivalent rondeau are words that have been used in music in a number of ways, most often in reference to a musical form, but also to a character-type that is distinct from the form.

Rondo form

The term and formal principle may have derived from the medieval poetic form, rondeau, which contains repetitions of a couplet separated by longer sections of poetry.^[1]

In rondo form, a principal theme (sometimes called the "refrain") alternates with one or more contrasting themes, generally called "episodes," but also occasionally referred to as "digressions" or "couplets." Possible patterns in the Classical period include: ABA, ABACA, or ABACADA. The number of themes can vary from piece to piece, and the recurring element is sometimes embellished and/or shortened in order to provide for variation.

The Baroque predecessor to the rondo was the ritornello. Ritornello form was used in the fast movements of baroque concertos. The entire orchestra (in Italian, tutti) plays the main ritornello theme, while soloists play the intervening episodes. While Rondo form is similar to ritornello form, it is different in that ritornello brings back the subject or main theme in fragments and in different keys, but the rondo brings back its theme complete and in the same key.

A common expansion of rondo form is to combine it with sonata form, to create the sonata rondo form. Here, the second theme acts in a similar way to the second theme group in sonata form by appearing first in a key other than the tonic and later being repeated in the tonic key. Unlike sonata form, thematic development does not need to occur except possibly in the coda.

Examples include the final movement of J.S. Bach's E Major Violin Concerto and the second movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata, Op. 13.^[1]

Character type

Rondo as a character-type (as distinct from the form) refers to music that is fast and vivacious – normally Allegro. Many classical rondos feature music of a popular or folk character. They include Mozart's Rondo in A minor K.511. Music that has been designated as "rondo" normally subscribes to both the form and character. On the other hand, there are many examples of slow and reflective works that are rondo in form but not in character.

A well-known operatic vocal genre of the late 18th century, referred to at that time by the same name but distinguished today in English and German writing by the differently accented term "rondò" is cast in two parts, slow-fast.^[2]

See also

• Sonata rondo form
• Rondeau (music) -- Medieval and Renaissance
• Rondo (novel)
• Ritornello

Sources

External links

• Rondo and Ritornello Forms in Tonal Music
• Rondo form in traditional marches from Limoux' carnival
• http://www.karmina.cz/mp3/cd7/09.mp3
• Texts on Wikisource:
  • "Rondo". New International Encyclopedia. 1905. 
  • "Rondeau". Encyclopedia Americana. 1920.