What is refrain? This term came into Russian from the French language. It is used when it comes to literary or musical work. Details about what refrain is described in today's article.
As already noted, this word is of French origin. It appeared about eight hundred years ago.
The word "refrain": meaning
Translated from French, this term means "repeat." To a question about what a refrain is, a person with at least a secondary musical education will easily answer. In classical works, repeated motifs are often found. However, in modern they are not uncommon.
What is refrain? This is a repeatedly repeated melody within the framework of one work. Poet fans are also aware of what refrain is. This is a phrase that appears several times in a poem. Synonyms for refrain are motive and refrain.
Occurrence
The word "refrain" appeared in the 13th century. So say the researchers. But they don’t talk about who invented this musical and poetic device. However, there is an old French legend that gives an exhaustive answer.
Once upon a time, a talented poet and musician lived in Occitania. The poetic works composed by him penetrated directly into the soul of young black-haired French women. It is not surprising that representatives of wealthy aristocratic families often turned to him for help.
The writer, for a modest fee, created a small musical and poetic work, a kind of declaration of love. The noble customer, having paid the author, hired musicians. And those, in turn, on a bright moonlit night sang a song composed to order, under the windows of an unmarried beauty.
The success was overwhelming. The girl the next day showed favor, taking her fan for the author of a romantic song. But no matter how talented the hero of this story, once the muse left him.
Having squandered the money that he had received for a work he had not yet composed, he found himself in a very delicate situation. It was urgent to write a song, but the muse did not think to return. The musician was able to create only one short melody, which was clearly not enough. And then he decided to go for a little trick.
He repeated the melody three times, and to the customer’s questions about why the song was so monotonous, he confidently stated that this is a new musical fashion, now very popular in Paris. The nobleman was satisfied. The lady of the heart, hearing a simple song, promised him to remain faithful until the end of her life. The vagrant musician now has three times more orders.
In music
Refrain is more commonly found in a musical form such as rondo. This term is of French origin, translated as "circular motion." In rondo, refrain plays the role of the main theme, which alternates with small episodes.
In order to understand what a refrain is, it is worth listening to the works of Bach. The great composer actively used this technique. Moreover, he introduced into rondo an essential element of fantasy.
In poetry
In versification, refrain is repeating lines. Such a passage of a poetic work may differ from the main part in rhythm, rhyme, size.
Refrain is quite common in the works of Russian poets. For example, in the works of Boris Pasternak. The famous novel of the writer and poet, Nobel laureate, ends with a small collection of poems. We are talking about the book "Doctor Zhivago." Perhaps the best-known work of this collection is Winter Night. The phrase "A candle burned on a table, a candle burned" serves as a refrain here.
Used this poetic device and Sergey Yesenin. For example, in the poem "Shagane, you are my Shagane."