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rondo

[ron-doh, ron-doh]
noun, plural ron·dos. Music.
  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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Origin of rondo

1790–1800; < Italian < French rondeau; see rondel
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for rondo

Historical Examples

  • It consists of an air, nine variations and a finale which is in rondo form.

    A Popular History of the Art of Music

    W. S. B. Mathews

  • The Rondo, Op. 73, was not originally written for two pianos.

  • Only the Adagio and Rondo of his Concerto had a decided success.

  • To her Chopin dedicated his first published work, Rondo, op. 1.

  • As for the Rondo I do not want any opinion on that at present, for I am not satisfied with it myself.

British Dictionary definitions for rondo

rondo

noun plural -dos
  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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Word Origin

C18: from Italian, from French rondeau
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for rondo

n.

1797, "musical composition of one principal theme, which is repeated at least once," from Italian rondo, from French rondeau, rondel, from Old French rondel "little round" (see rondel).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper