rondo

American  

[ron-doh, ron-doh] / ˈrɒn doʊ, rɒnˈdoʊ /

noun

Music.

plural

rondos

1. a work or movement, often the last movement of a sonata, having one principal subject that is stated at least three times in the same key and to which return is made after the introduction of each subordinate theme.

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rondo British  

/ ˈrɒndəʊ /

noun

1. a piece of music in which a refrain is repeated between episodes: often constitutes the form of the last movement of a sonata or concerto

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Etymology

Origin of rondo

1790–1800; < Italian < French rondeau; see rondel

Example Sentences

Coaches stand over an intense 4v2 rondo, glaring with intensity.

From The Guardian • Mar. 12, 2019

Amid brass fanfares, the finale takes off like some frenetic rondo, though metric dislocations and out-of-nowhere restrained passages keep you off guard.

From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2019

The adagio had lambent warmth, and at the end, after the fireworks of the rondo, the timpanist locked eyes with Douglas for her closing solo, communing on every note.

From Washington Post • May 22, 2016

The song was a rudimentary rondo, single half notes for treble and bass.

From US News • Apr. 27, 2015

And hybrid forms, like the sonata rondo, can become popular with some composers.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones