rondo

noun

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ron·do | \ ˈrän-(ˌ)dō

, rän-ˈdō \

plural rondos

Definition of rondo

1 : an instrumental composition typically with a refrain recurring four times in the tonic and with three couplets in contrasting keys

2 : the musical form of a rondo used especially for a movement in a concerto or sonata

Examples of rondo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Scratchy overplaying marred the second movement rondo. — Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, 13 June 2021 The first movement has the sound of a Russian folk song, but following a flowing second movement, the rondo finale is a burst of Spanish color, complete with castanets. — Patrick Neas, kansascity, 17 Feb. 2018 The fifth and final movement came across as a mercurial rondo that shifts from stretches of harmonically raw vehemence to subdued yet swinging passages that Mr. Bell, backed by Mr. Gilbert and the orchestra, played with an eerily spectral quality. — Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2017 Mozart’s A minor Rondo (K. 511), after intermission, was prelude to the main event, a blockbuster account of Beethoven’s final piano sonata, No. 32 in C minor, in two epic movements. — James R. Oestreich, New York Times, 23 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rondo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.