Sonata: meaning, definitions and examples
๐น
sonata
[ sษหnษหtษ ]
musical composition
A sonata is a musical composition typically for a solo instrument or a small ensemble. It usually consists of several movements, each with its own distinct character and tempo. The structure of a sonata often follows a specific form, such as sonata-allegro form, which includes exposition, development, and recapitulation sections. Sonatas have been a prominent form in Western classical music, commonly composed during the Classical and Romantic periods. They allow for deep expression and technical showcase of the instrument.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She performed a beautiful sonata on the piano.
- The sonata in C major is one of Beethoven's most famous works.
- He studied the sonata form in his music theory class.
Translations
Translations of the word "sonata" in other languages:
๐ต๐น sonata
๐ฎ๐ณ เคธเฅเคจเคพเคเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Sonate
๐ฎ๐ฉ sonata
๐บ๐ฆ ัะพะฝะฐัะฐ
๐ต๐ฑ sonata
๐ฏ๐ต ใฝใใฟ
๐ซ๐ท sonate
๐ช๐ธ sonata
๐น๐ท sonat
๐ฐ๐ท ์๋ํ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุณููุงุชุง
๐จ๐ฟ sonรกta
๐ธ๐ฐ sonรกta
๐จ๐ณ ๅฅ้ธฃๆฒ
๐ธ๐ฎ sonata
๐ฎ๐ธ sonata
๐ฐ๐ฟ ัะพะฝะฐัะฐ
๐ฌ๐ช แกแแแแขแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ sonata
๐ฒ๐ฝ sonata
Etymology
The word 'sonata' originates from the Italian term 'sonare', meaning 'to sound'. The term began to be used in music terminology around the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. Originally, it referred to compositions that were played rather than sung, in contrast to 'cantata', which derives from the same root meaning 'to sing'. By the time of the Classical era, the sonata had evolved into a significant form that encompassed various instrumentation, primarily focusing on piano sonatas. Prominent composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven greatly contributed to the development of the sonata form, establishing its influence in Western classical music, which persists to this day.