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  #1  
Old 10-04-2021, 12:37 PM
fpuhan fpuhan is offline
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Default The Term For Roundabout Singing?

Obviously, if I knew the term, I'd either put it in the subject line, or even more likely wouldn't have to ask.

I'm practicing a song to teach my grandkids to sing along to (Witchi Tai To, as performed by Brewer & Shipley, in 1969). Its form is similar to "Row, row, row your boat," as different voices begin the opening verse in a staggered fashion.

What's the term for that? It's not counterpoint (I don't think), and I've heard it referred to as "round," but I believe there's a more accurate, "official" term for that kind of song.
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Old 10-04-2021, 12:53 PM
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"Rondo" is the name, or a least a name. There may be other terms used.
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Old 10-04-2021, 01:32 PM
stanron stanron is offline
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I know this form of song as a 'round'.
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Old 10-04-2021, 01:46 PM
fpuhan fpuhan is offline
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Thank you, both! I don't believe "rondo" is correct, as the Encyclopedia Brittanica explains, "Rondo, in music, an instrumental form characterized by the initial statement and subsequent restatement of a particular melody or section, the various statements of which are separated by contrasting material."

However, "round" is better, and much easier to explain than "imitative polyphonic texture."

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Old 10-04-2021, 02:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fpuhan View Post
Thank you, both! I don't believe "rondo" is correct, as the Encyclopedia Brittanica explains, "Rondo, in music, an instrumental form characterized by the initial statement and subsequent restatement of a particular melody or section, the various statements of which are separated by contrasting material."

However, "round" is better, and much easier to explain than "imitative polyphonic texture."

Yes, that's correct. How about if you alternate ABABA with "Row, Row, Your Boat" and "Three Blind Mice"
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Old 10-04-2021, 03:48 PM
merlin666 merlin666 is offline
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If you refer to singing where voices enter at different points, sometimes with counterpoints that is called a "canon".
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Old 10-04-2021, 08:55 PM
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"Round" is the common name for this. Won't work on just any tune.
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Old 10-09-2021, 06:19 PM
Italuke Italuke is offline
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Yes, canon is generally the term classical nerds like. Round is more vernacular. Rondo is wrong. That's a whole different thing.
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Old 10-12-2021, 01:23 PM
Andyrondack Andyrondack is offline
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We did this at primary school 50 years ago with songs like Sloop John B , they called it a canon.
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Old 10-12-2021, 05:26 PM
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Roundabout Singing:


I think the term you are looking for is "Sing-along."

Bob
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  #11  
Old 10-12-2021, 07:46 PM
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From Wikipedia on Canon

In music, a canon is a contrapuntal (counterpoint-based) compositional technique that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration (e.g., quarter rest, one measure, etc.). The initial melody is called the leader (or dux), while the imitative melody, which is played in a different voice, is called the follower (or comes). The follower must imitate the leader, either as an exact replication of its rhythms and intervals or some transformation thereof. Repeating canons in which all voices are musically identical are called rounds—"Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and "Frère Jacques" are popular examples.
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Old 10-12-2021, 09:02 PM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is online now
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The most often used term is "Singing in the round".

Technically it is two or three voices singing the exact same part, but starting at staggered points which work cyclically with the material.
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