Kaii Lee had combined several piano/keyboard method books and her life long music learning books to create this sequential music theory study for this website. This page is about the Rondo Form. Other than the Sonata form, the Classical Period composers found a very useful way to save time in creating new musical ideas, but keeping the music flowing with a special way by repeating certain parts of a song. And, the Rondo Form was born. By clicking on the other colored links at the bottom of this page, the other music theory topics can be found easily.
For more information, please contact Kaii directly: info@kafm.net
In a typical Rondo Form, the composer introduces a theme called "Refrain" that returns throughout the piece. Between recurring of the theme (Refrain), there are sections of contrasting music called "Episodes", which often occur in a different key from the original Refrain. A 5-part Rondo Form is written in sections of ABACA, and a less frequently used 7-part Rondo Form is written with ABACABA sections. However, the 7-Part Rondo has more variations. See here.
The most famous example of a Rondo Form music is probably "Für Elise" by Ludwig Van Beethoven. It is structured in the 5-Part ABACA Rondo Form. The Refrain was written in A Minor and followed by an Episode B in F Major and an Episode C in A Minor.
"Für Elise" by Ludwig Van Beethoven, WoO 59 |
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In the above music sample, the Episodes were in different keys. However, they can be in the same key, but with different rhythmic phrases.
Another very famous Rondo, but different, written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in seven sections, ABCBADE, with built-in Ternary (ABA) Forms in the two Refrains and Episode C. The following example is from Mozart's Piano Sonata No.11, Last Movement. It is called the "Turkish March."
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Sonata No.11, K.331, in A Major, Last Movement (A Minor) |
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Another example of a Classical Period piece that was written with the Rondo Form structure with a Coda is called ''Rondo a Capriccio'', nick named "Rage Over a Lost Penny" by Ludwig van Beethoven. It has a 5-part Rondo (ABACA) structure. The song starts with the main Theme, or Refrain, in G major, followed by the First Episode (B) in G Minor. The Refrain comes back in G major, followed by the Second Episode (C) in E major. The music continues with a set of variations on the Refrain in G major. It modulates from G Major to G Minor, back to G Major, modulates again to E Major, back to G Major, then a wild ride through A-flat Major, D-Flat Major, with a B-Flat Pedal Point, and finally settle into a G Major Coda. Even though it was not labeled as Coda, but the last time when the music moves back into G Major, it is the final section of the song.
Ludwig van Beethoven's ''Rondo a Capriccio'', Op. 129, "Rage Over a Lost Penny" |
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Have you ever had the "Rage Over a Lost Penny" or played the song?
The next topic in this Music Theory site is all about "Theme & Variations." Thank you for reading!
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For more information, please contact Ms. Lee at: info@kafm.net
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