The Exposition


This first Division, the statement, compounded of

two themes and a recurrence, is in itself a complete (though probably

very concise) First Rondo-form; therefore, in order to confirm the

intended design, at least one of its themes must contain two (or more)

Parts,--otherwise it would be no more, all together, than a Three-Part

Song-form, and the whole Rondo would be reduced to the design of the

First Rondo-form. In a
ord, the Exposition must correspond concisely

to the table given on page 108. The First Subordinate theme takes its

usual emphatic position in a different key,--generally closely related

to the key of the Principal theme.



Sometimes, but by no means regularly, the Exposition closes with a

decisive perfect cadence in the original key.



The Middle Division.--As this should balance (at least approximately),

the Exposition, it is likely to be a fairly broad design,--not greater,

however, than a Three-Part Song-form (possibly with repetitions), and

often no more than a Two-Part form. As intimated in the preceding

chapter, the Second Subordinate theme is usually strongly contrasted

with the other themes, in character, key, and length; but the same

unity of total effect is necessary, as in the smaller Rondo-forms. The

re-transition (or returning passage) is often quite lengthy and

elaborate; it is seldom an independent section of the form, however,

but generally developed out of the last phrase of the theme, by the

process of dissolution,--to be explained more fully in Chapter XVII.



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