The first is known as the _Exposition_, comprising the Principal Theme, First Subordinate Theme, and recurrence of the Principal Theme; the second division consists of the Second Subordinate Theme only; the Third Division is the _Recapitulation_ of the first Division.
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 word, 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.
THE RECAPITULATION .-- This corresponds, theoretically, to the _da capo_ in the Song with Trio, or to the variated recurrence of the Principal theme in the First Rondo-form.