rondoform

Rondo form is a musical structure in which a main theme, or refrain, returns repeatedly after contrasting sections, creating a pattern of alternating familiar material and new episodes.

Common rondo designs include ABACA, ABACABA, and ABACADABA. These patterns emphasize the cyclical nature of the form, with the A material appearing in the home key and episodes modulating to related keys for variety.

Historically, the term rondo derives from the Italian rondo or rondare, meaning to circle. The form developed in the late Baroque and Classical periods as a flexible alternative to sonata form, and it was especially used for final movements of symphonies, sonatas, and concertos. It is related to the ritornello principle but with freer returns.

Notable practitioners include Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and Chopin. A widely cited example is Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca from the Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K. 331, which uses a lively A theme with contrasting sections.