Fantasia a la Rondo

The Fantasia à la Rondo is written in the key of B♭ Major. The movement is introduced by a three note chord motif in Major in a Handel-like march before eliding into the main rondo theme. The movement follows a more fantasia like format since the rondo theme is not strictly repeated and is developed through various key modulations and a set of variations before concluding with a restatement of the three chord motif in B♭ Major.

The Rondo form is fairly common as a concluding movement in Sonatas. The Rondo form is characterized by a principal theme alternating with one to several contrasting episodes. While originating in the Baroque period the Rondo became established in the Classical and Romantic musical periods.

For an extensive discussion of the Rondo see the Wikipedia entry: Rondo