Share Renaissance Baroque Romantic Modern Instruments Musical Forms Notation
The 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 to a character-type that is distinct from the form. Although now called rondo form, the form started off in earlier periods as the ritornello, from the Italian word ritornare meaning "to return" - indicating the return to the original theme or motif ("A").
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. 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.The typical Baroque ritornello pattern is ABACABA.
Rondo in G major op. 34 no.2 by Fernando Carulli performed by Jessica Kaiser and Jakob Schmidt
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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 include: ABA, ABACA, or 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. The form began to be commonly used during Classical period, 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.
Rondo K. 229 by Amadeus Mozart transcribed and performed by Charles Mokotoff
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