T The Second Rondo Form


As described in the preceding chapter, the Second Rondo-form contains

two digressions from the Principal theme, called respectively the first

and second Subordinate themes. It bears the same relation to the

Five-Part Song-form, that the First Rondo-form bears to the Three-Part

Song-form.



For the sake of effective contrast, the two Subordinate themes are

generally differentiated to a marked degree; more p
ecisely stated,

the second Subordinate theme is likely to differ strikingly both from

the Principal theme and from the first Subordinate theme; the result is

that, as a general rule, the second digression is more emphatic than

the first.



To prevent the enlarged design from assuming too great dimensions, the

several themes are apt to be more concise than in the first Rondo-form;

the Two-Part form is therefore more common than the Three-Part; the

first Subordinate theme is generally brief, and the Principal theme

upon its recurrences, is frequently abbreviated,--especially the last

one, which often merges in the coda.



An example of the second Rondo-form (which may be sufficiently

illustrated without notes) will be found in the last movement of

Beethoven's pianoforte sonata, op. 49, No. 2 (G major). Number the one

hundred and twenty measures, and define the factors of the form with

close reference to the following indications--the figures in

parenthesis denoting the measures:



Principal theme. Part I (1-8), period-form; Part II (9-12), phrase;

Part III (13-20), period-form.



Transition, period-form (21-27), leading into the new key.



First Subordinate theme, period-form (28-36), with



Codetta, repeated (37-42).



Re-transition (43-47).



Principal theme, as before (48-67).



Second Subordinate theme, double-period (68-83); the process of

Re-transition manifests its inception about one measure before (82),

and is carried on to measure 87.



Principal theme, as before (88-107).



Coda, period, with modified repetition of consequent phrase

(108-119),--followed by an extra perfect cadence, as extension.



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