Humanities Courses/Art, Music, and Architecture Around the WorldCourse
- AuthorTeresa Newman
Teresa Newman has taught K-12 music and musical theater for over 12 years. They have a Masters in Music Performance, Masters in Education, and Bachelors in Music from Stephen F. Austin State University. They also are the founder, director, instructor, and content creator for Newman Music Academy based in Houston, Texas.
View bio - InstructorChristopher Muscato
Chris has a master's degree in history and teaches at the University of Northern Colorado.
View bio
Learn the definition of a round in music, explore its history, and view examples. Discover the elements of a round, and examine how the singing rounds are composed.Updated: 11/21/2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a round mean in music?
The round music definition describes the song form and how it is performed. In a round, one melody is performed by 3-5 players, each beginning at a different time to create counterpoint and texture.
How do you make a round in music?
To create a round in music, a lead singer will first establish a simple melody alone. Follower singers will then enter separately and at regularly timed intervals. This creates a sound of multiple melody lines, or counterpoints, performing simultaneously.
Table of Contents
- What is a Round in Music?
- Elements of a Round
- Lesson Summary
In Western classical music and western folk music, composers often write works in specific song forms which follow the rules and guidelines for creating certain sounds. Some song forms are highly complex with many parts, while others are incredibly simple in structure. A round is what most music scholars consider the simplest version of a broader song form, the canon.
What is a round in music, and how is it related to the canon? The round is a song form in which three to five voices simultaneously sing a simple melody in unison or octaves starting at different times, often with each performer beginning two measures after the previous singer.
The round music definition is very similar to the canon, its related song form. A canon is a song form that involves the repetition, imitation, and alteration of a simple melody established by a leader's voice at the beginning of the piece. Because of this connection, a round is a special variation of a canon that is often referred to as an ''infinite canon'' because of the repetition of a singular melodic idea in place of introducing new material.
History of Rounds
Examples of the round song forms date back as far as 12th Century Europe. Musical counterpoint, which is an element of composition that involves multiple melody lines played simultaneously by two or more voices, existed as early as the Medieval period. The round is one of the earliest uses of counterpoint writing that was found during this time.
The earliest prototype of the round could be heard in the Medieval churches of France and England. The rondellus is considered the oldest version of this type of song form and was used to perform plainchant hymns such as ''Nunc sante nobis spiritus'' during special occasions. Song round would be performed with multiple voices singing the melody in various permutations all at once.
A later version more prominent in England, the rota, acted much like the modern round, with multiple voices entering at different times. ''Sumer is icumen in'' is a famous 13th-century example of a rota. Very few popular rounds of the era were actually written down by composers and have been lost to time. Rather than early rounds being recorded with standard music notation, they were more likely taught by imitation and memorization. Much like other folk music practices, the tradition of the round was passed down through the generations.
Examples of Rounds
Today, the practice of singing in the round is most often used in the performance of modern folk and children's tunes. Melodies used in singing round today are simple, easy to sing by most performers, and are meant to be learned and performed in an informal or educational setting. Some of the most common rounds performed today include:
- ''Row, Row, Row Your Boat''
- ''Alouette Gentille Alouette''
- ''Frere Jacques''
- ''London's Burning''
- ''Brother John''
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A round incorporates a number of simple elements in order to achieve the desired counterpoint melody. Not only does a round need a certain notation and song structure, but it also requires performers to follow certain rules for interpreting the round.
Performers in a Round
Round music is most often performed by vocalists. Because the success of a round is dependent on the counterpoint singing of multiple performers, singing rounds requires 3-5 singers.
Although every performer eventually sings the exact same melody, each performer is responsible for a differently-timed entrance of the primary melody. One of the performers will lead the group at the first entrance of the melody. This leader performer, also called the dux, will start singing alone. At the same time, each subsequent performer will typically wait for a specified number of beats or measures after the previous singer begins the melody. Followers are also called comes. Although the leader begins the melody first, each performer will eventually sing the melody as a whole.
Music of a Round
The art of composing counterpoint is key to the music of a round. Although melodies that are performed in a round are simple, not every song can be a round. Songs in round have to have melodic segments that sound complimentary even while played simultaneously. Composers will divide the melody into two segments: the main melody, and the counter melody. Each segment must contrast the other in a harmonious way while sounding at the same time.
For instance, in counterpoint, it is desired to have an opposing melodic direction. If the first segment of a melody in a round travels up to a higher note, the second segment would need to travel down in the opposite direction. Once the two segments are performed at the same time, a counterpoint occurs, and a round is achieved. The leader starts the main melody first, and all other follower performers eventually perform the melody in its entirety.
Rounds in Sheet Music
Round in sheet music is notated in a few ways, depending on the setting and performers. Often in the traditional notation setting, the melody will only be written out once, and performer entrances will be notated with an asterisk (or sometimes numbers) at the measure in which the performer will cue off the previous performer. Once the singer reaches that point in the music, the next performer will begin the melody from the beginning. Other composers might also write out each entrance on a separate staff using a specific number of rested measures before a performer begins the melody from the beginning.
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Round music has been around for centuries. To this day, it is still used as a teaching tool and remains an important part of the western music vernacular.
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A round is a song form in which 3 to 5 singers sing a melody in unison or octaves starting at different times. When a song is performed in a round, there are two groups: the leader, and the followers. Melodies are written in two segments. These two segments, the main melody and the counter melody sound harmonious while performed at the same time. The leader will begin the performance by establishing the main melody, and each performer will perform the main melody from the beginning at differently-timed entrances. These entrances are at regular intervals, which are most often notated with an asterisk in sheet music. Although the leader starts the main melody, each performer will also eventually sing it in whole.
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Additional Info
Music Go Round
Merry-go-rounds are popular carnival attractions. Yes, they are a pleasure to ride, but they're just a fun to watch. Each horse follows the same path as the others but is slightly different, going up and down and round and round. From inside the merry-go-round, you just see your own path, but from outside you can see how they all interact. This same sort of logic is applied to music. A round is a form of composition in which each singer or instrumentalist carries the same melody, but begins and ends at different points. Rounds are sometimes technically referred to as perpetual canons, referring to music with structured repetition that can be repeated basically forever. Round and round and round it goes…
Elements of a Round
While this sounds pretty simple, there are some technical conventions of rounds that must be followed in order for it to actually make a composition that's enjoyable to hear. First, let's talk about the members. Rounds require a minimum of three performers and rarely have more than four or five. Traditionally, they are performed by vocalists. Since each vocalist sings the exact same melody, the composition of these singers is not a major concern. The person who begins the round is called the leader, or technically the dux. After the leader introduces the melody, the other singers come in at set intervals, starting that same melody from its beginning. These other singers are the follower, or comes.
The performers are one important element of a round, but the actual music is just as important. Despite what many people think, not every song can be sung as a round. Rounds are specifically written for this purpose. You want the round to still sound good, which means that you need to be aware of how the melody will interact with itself while overlapping. To ensure a harmonious composition, the repeated line is generally broken into two sections. The melody introduces a musical theme, then the countermelody presents a contrast that supports but is different than the melody. For example, if the melody feature ascending notes, the countermelody may have descending notes. The followers often come in while the leader is nearing the countermelody, so that melody and countermelody are constantly overlapping, which creates a synthetic, but still uniquely disjointed and dynamic composition.
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The Round in Sheet Music
One last thing we need to talk about is how to actually read a round in sheet music. Rounds are usually presented as a single melodic line, with asterisks denoting the places for the followers to begin. Let's look at this in perhaps the most popular round in American culture: Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Here are the lyrics:
Row, row, row your boat * gently down the stream;* merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, * life is but a dream!
Okay, now go find three friends (or the three nearest strangers), and give this round a shot. The leader begins singing ''row, row, row'' etc and when he/she finishes ''boat'', the first follower starts singing ''row, row, row''. When the leader reaches the second asterisk, the second follower starts singing. When the leader reaches the third asterisk, the third follower begins and you've got four people singing the same melody at different intervals. Notice how the melodies and countermelodies interact, and create a revolving composition.
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Lesson Summary
In music, a round is a form of composition featuring multiple performers playing the same melody but starting at different intervals. The melody is introduced by the leader, with each follower restarting the melody when the leader reaches an asterisk in the sheet music. Composing a round requires a fair amount of thought, as the melody must overlap harmoniously with itself. Dividing the main line into a melody and countermelody is a good way to balance this. Rounds are perpetually repetitive, only stopping when the leader indicates. Until then, round and round and round it goes.
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