Rondo

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

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In rondo form, a principal theme (sometimes called the "refrain") alternates with one or more contrasting themes, variously called "digressions", "couplets", "episodes", or "subordinate themes". The overall form can be represented as ABACADA ... 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.

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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 periods it was often used for the last movement of a sonata, symphony, concerto or piece of chamber music.

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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, there is no thematic development except possibly in the coda.

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Rondo as a character-type (as distinct from the form) equates to music that is fast and vivacious—normally allegro. 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 normally do not identify such works as "rondo".

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French: French can refer to more than one article:...

Music: Music is a natural intuitive phenomenon operating in the three worlds of time, pitch, energy, and under the three distinct and interrelated organization structures of rhythm, harmony, and melody....

Musical form: The term musical form is used in two related ways:...

Rondo related Images and Photos (experimental)

Rondo Hatton	Rajon Rondo	Rajon Rondo Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals; Action #3	Rajon Rondo Game Six of the 2008 NBA Finals
Rajon Rondo Game Two of the 2009-10 NBA Finals	adidas Celtics Rajon Rondo Shooting Shirt	Celtics Rajon Rondo 2010 NBA FInals Game Time Shooting Shirt	Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers: Rajon Rondo and Thaddeus Young
Phoenix Suns v Boston Celtics Boston MA - March 02: Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett	Miami Heat v Boston Celtics - Game Four Boston MA - MAY 9: Rajon Rondo and Zydrunas Ilgauskas	Boston Celtics v Portland Trail Blazers Portland OR - January 27: Andre Miller and Rajon Rondo