rondo
n. countablen. a piece of music where the main theme keeps coming back between different sections. It is like a song that returns to the same catchy chorus after every verse.
n. a musical form or movement characterized by a recurring primary theme interspersed with contrasting episodes. Often follows an ABACA or ABACADA structural pattern.
The final movement of the sonata is a lively rondo.
The composer chose a rondo for the finale to ensure the audience would leave humming the main melody.
While the classical rondo typically maintains a lighthearted character, later Romantic composers experimented with the form to introduce greater emotional weight and structural complexity.
Unadapted borrowing from Italian rondò, itself an unadapted borrowing of French rondeau. Doublet of rondeau; see there for further etymology.
Commonly used in the context of classical music theory and performance.