The term sonata has two meanings in music:
In this component, we will focus on the second definition, i.e. sonata form.
At the turn of the Classical period, composers showed increasing interest in homophonic textures at the expense of counterpoint. The sonata form grew out of the binary form of the Baroque period. Contrary to binary form, the sonata form develops material in more organic fashion.
It is a flexible form that is used in a number of different ways by composers. That said, there are common features to those works that use the form. Here is a plan of the main sections of the sonata form:
Exposition | Development | Recapitulation |
---|---|---|
1st Subject Bridge (modulation) 2nd Subject (related key) |
Developing material from the exposition (numerous keys) |
1st Subject Bridge 2nd Subject (tonic key) |