All Topics  
Rondo

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Rondo
 
 
  Topics Rondo Topic Home

Rondo, and its French
French language

French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
 equivalent rondeau, is a word that has been used in music
Music

Music is an art form whose media is sound organized in time. Common elements of music are pitch , rhythm , dynamics , and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture ....
 in a number of ways, most often in reference to a musical form
Musical form

The term musical form refers to two related concepts:*the type of composition *the structure of a particular musical piece .There is some overlap between musical form and musical genre....
, but also in reference to a character-type that is distinct from the form. Although now called rondo form, the form started off in the Baroque period as the ritornello
Ritornello

In Baroque music, ritornello was the word for a recurring passage for orchestra in the first or final movement of a solo concerto or aria . In ritornello form, the Musical terminology#T opens with a Theme called the ritornello ....
 form, coming from the Latin word ritornare meaning "to return", indicating the return to the original theme or motif ("A").






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Rondo'
Start a new discussion about 'Rondo'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Rondo, and its French
French language

French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
 equivalent rondeau, is a word that has been used in music
Music

Music is an art form whose media is sound organized in time. Common elements of music are pitch , rhythm , dynamics , and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture ....
 in a number of ways, most often in reference to a musical form
Musical form

The term musical form refers to two related concepts:*the type of composition *the structure of a particular musical piece .There is some overlap between musical form and musical genre....
, but also in reference to a character-type that is distinct from the form. Although now called rondo form, the form started off in the Baroque period as the ritornello
Ritornello

In Baroque music, ritornello was the word for a recurring passage for orchestra in the first or final movement of a solo concerto or aria . In ritornello form, the Musical terminology#T opens with a Theme called the ritornello ....
 form, coming from the Latin word ritornare meaning "to return", indicating the return to the original theme or motif ("A"). The typical Baroque rondo pattern is ABACADA. Although consisting of a few differences, some people use the two terms interchangeably.

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 ABACAB'A. The number of themes can vary from piece to piece, and the recurring element is sometimes embellished or shortened in order to provide for variation
Variation (music)

In music, variation is a formal technique where material is altered during repetition: reiteration with changes. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre or orchestration....
.

The form began to be commonly used from the classical music era, though it can be found in earlier works. In the classical and romantic
Romantic music

In music, romanticism is a term, often considered misleading, and concept derived from literature traditionally defined by attributes including, "interest in nature, medieval chivalry, mysticism, [and] remoteness [ Social alienation and Solitude]"....
 periods it was often used for the last movement of a sonata, symphony
Symphony

A symphony is a musical composition, often extended and usually for orchestra. "Symphony" does not imply a specific form. Many symphonies are tonality works in four movement with the first in sonata form, and this is often described by music theorists as the structure of a "Classical period " symphony, although even some symphonies by the ac...
, concerto
Concerto

The term Concerto usually refers to a three-part musical work in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra. The concerto, as understood in this modern way, arose in the Baroque period side by side with the concerto grosso, which contrasted a small group of instruments with the rest of the orchestra....
 or piece of chamber music
Chamber music

Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber....
.

Rondo was often used by baroque composers to write Ritornello
Ritornello

In Baroque music, ritornello was the word for a recurring passage for orchestra in the first or final movement of a solo concerto or aria . In ritornello form, the Musical terminology#T opens with a Theme called the ritornello ....
 rondos. They were used in the fast movements of baroque concertos and contrast the whole orchestra (who play the main theme) against soloists (who play the episodes.) But Ritornello does differ slightly from other Rondos in that the theme is often different when it recurs but is always distinguishable as the same theme.

A common expansion of rondo form is to combine it with sonata form
Sonata form

Sonata form is a musical form that has been used widely since the early Classical music era. While it is typically used in the first Movement of multimovement pieces, it is sometimes employed in subsequent movements as well....
, to create the sonata rondo form
Sonata rondo form

Sonata rondo form was a form of musical organization often used during the Classical music era. As the name implies, it is a blend of sonata form and Rondo....
. Here, the second theme acts in a similar way to the second theme group in sonata form by appearing first in a key
Key (music)

In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a certain key, such as in the key of C or in the key of F-sharp....
 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
Coda (music)

Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage which brings a piece to a conclusion....
.

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. 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. Composers such as George Gershwin
George Gershwin

George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. He wrote most of his vocal and theatrical works in collaboration with his elder brother, lyricist Ira Gershwin....
 normally do not identify such works as "rondo".

See also

  • Sonata rondo form
    Sonata rondo form

    Sonata rondo form was a form of musical organization often used during the Classical music era. As the name implies, it is a blend of sonata form and Rondo....
  • Rondeau (music)
    Rondeau (music)

    The rondeau was a Medieval music and early Renaissance music musical form, based on a popular contemporary poetry form . It is distinct from the 18th century rondo, though the terms are likely related....
     -- Medieval and Renaissance form


External links