Sonata Form
A large-scale musical structure based on exposition, development, and recapitulation
Category
form
Pronunciation
soh-NAH-tah FORM
Origin
Italian
Length
96 words · 1 min read
About Sonata Form
Sonata form is the most important structural principle in Classical and Romantic music. The exposition presents two contrasting themes in different keys; the development manipulates and transforms this material; the recapitulation restates both themes in the home key.
More form terms
Fine
View all formterms →The end; the point at which the piece concludes.
AriaA self-contained piece for solo voice with instrumental accompaniment, typically within an opera or oratorio
SuiteA collection of short movements grouped together, often based on dance forms or sharing a common theme
IntermezzoA piece played between other compositions or acts.
RecitativoA vocal style imitating natural speech rhythms.
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