The Rondo is a musical form often used by Hayden, Mozart, Beethoven, and their contemporaries for the last movements of their pieces. A Rondo almost always starts with a lively or cheerful tune. This tune is called the Rondo or the Rondo theme and it serves as a refrain returning again and again throughout the movement. In between the recurrences of the Rondo theme are sections called episodes and the episodes are there for contrast. They provide changes of pace, or mood, or character. Sometime the episodes include flashy passages that are designed to show off the virtuosity of the performer or performers. And usually, at least one episode will be of a darker or more serious nature. Not too serious, though, because there's usually more melodrama in Rondos than real drama. At the end of the movement, the cheerful Rondo theme always returns, generally with a sparkling sections or coda attached to wrap things up with an exclamation point to make sure the audience goes home with a smile.
A Minute with Miles - a production of South Carolina ETV Radio made possible by the JM Smith Corporation.
