Refrain

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the vocal line or system where the refrain begins, often in capitals, and in navigation directions — au refrain, go back to the refrain — that work like D.C. or D.S. It labels a section and lasts until the next couplet or heading.

How Composers Use It

A refrain is the recurring section of a song or rondeau, returning with the same music and often the same words. Labelling it lets you write it out once and send performers back with au refrain, which saves space but needs a clear sign and a clear ending. Make the refrain memorable and harmonically closed, and let the couplets do the travelling.

Example

Satie, Je te veux, voice, m. 6: “REFRAIN” is printed beside “VALSE”; later the piano part sends the players back with “AU REFRAIN”.

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