In the Musical theory, the round is a figure of note represented by an oval of white color, whose position on the carried - line or line space - indicates the height Note of music.

• the silence of the round is the pause , figure of duration identical.

a round and a pause:

the pause can also be used in a special way: placed only in the center of a measurement, it indicates that this measurement is in silence, and this, even if the total of the values of measurement in question is theoretically higher or lower to him.

• the round is longest of the “round notation” of the Renaissance: it symbolizes one duration equalizes to two white, four black, eight eighth notes, sixteen double eighth notes, etc

For example, in a measurement quantified 4/4, the round is worth four time, that is to say, the totality of measurement.

• the round is the calculating unit of the Chiffrage of measurement, which makes it possible always to know the contents of each measurement, in figures of notes.

For example:

- 3/4 means “three quarters of round”, that is to say “three black per measurement”;

- 2/2 means “two halves of round”, that is to say “two white per measurement”;

- 6/8 means “six eighth of round”, that is to say “six eighth notes per measurement”; etc

• When the its is prolonged during several measurements, it is represented by dependant rounds .

• In the Prelude S not measured of the French tradition of the 17th century, all the sounds were noted in rounds, independently of their duration. It thus returned to the interprets to determine these durations according to the character of the part, which did this one a impromptu music.

See too

• Provision of the notes on range

• the theoretical and technical Glossary of the Western music
• Representation of the durations (musical theory)
• Rate/rhythm (musical theory)