A sonata is a piece of music for one or two players, in several movements. A piano sonata is for piano alone. A violin sonata is for violin and piano. Most sonatas have three or four movements, and the whole piece lasts from ten minutes to half an hour or more.
The word comes from Italian. It means a piece that is “sounded,” or played on instruments. A piece that is sung was called a cantata.
Who plays a sonata
| Name | Players |
|---|---|
| Piano sonata | One pianist |
| Violin sonata | A violinist and a pianist |
| Cello sonata | A cellist and a pianist |
| Flute sonata | A flutist and a pianist |
In a sonata for two, the piano is a full partner. It has as much to say as the other instrument.
The movements
A sonata from the time of Mozart and Beethoven often goes like this:
| Movement | Speed |
|---|---|
| First | Fast, and the most serious |
| Second | Slow and singing |
| Third | Fast, and often a rondo, where one tune keeps coming back |
Some sonatas add a minuet or a scherzo, for four movements in all. Some break the pattern. Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata begins with its slow movement.
Read what is a movement in classical music?
Sonata and sonata form
These two terms sound alike and mean different things.
- A sonata is a whole piece.
- Sonata form is the plan of one movement. First movements of sonatas, symphonies, and concertos often use it.
Sonata form has three parts:
- Exposition. The composer states two tunes, in two keys.
- Development. The tunes are broken up, mixed, and taken through new keys.
- Recapitulation. Both tunes come back, and this time they stay in the home key.
A short ending called a coda may follow.
Read musical form for kids.
The sonatina
A sonatina is a small sonata. It is shorter and easier, and it is written for students. The sonatinas of Muzio Clementi, Op. 36, have been in piano lessons for more than 200 years. A student who plays a sonatina is learning the plan of the big sonatas at a size that fits.
Read easy classical piano pieces for beginners.
A short history
- Baroque era. Sonatas were written for one or two melody instruments with a keyboard and a cello. Domenico Scarlatti wrote 555 sonatas for keyboard, each in one movement.
- Classical era. Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven settled the plan of three or four movements. Beethoven wrote 32 piano sonatas.
- Romantic era and after. Chopin, Brahms, Liszt, and Prokofiev wrote sonatas that are longer and freer.
Sonatas to hear first
Piano Sonata in C major, K. 545, first movement, by Mozart. Mozart called it a little sonata for beginners. Piano students often learn it.
Piano Sonata in A major, K. 331, last movement, by Mozart. The “Turkish March.” See Rondo alla Turca for kids.
“Moonlight” Sonata, first movement, by Beethoven. Slow, quiet, and dark. See the guide.
“Pathétique” Sonata, second movement, by Beethoven. A warm, singing tune.
Sonatina in C major, Op. 36, No. 1, by Clementi. A whole sonata in about four minutes.
“Spring” Sonata for violin and piano, first movement, by Beethoven. The violin and the piano trade the tune.
Sonata in E major, K. 380, by Scarlatti. A sonata in one movement. Read the harpsichord for kids.
Sonata, concerto, or symphony?
| Piece | Who plays | Movements |
|---|---|---|
| Sonata | One or two players | Three or four |
| Concerto | A soloist and an orchestra | Three, as a rule |
| Symphony | An orchestra | Four, as a rule |
Read what is a concerto?, what is a symphony?, and symphony, concerto, and sonata explained.
Things to do together
How many players? Play the start of three pieces. Ask whether each is a sonata, a concerto, or a symphony. Count the players by ear.
Find the first tune again. Play the first movement of Mozart’s K. 545. Raise a hand when the opening tune comes back near the end.
Two tunes. In the same movement, ask your child to hum the first tune and then the second. How are they different?
Who has the tune? In a violin sonata, point to a picture of a violin or a piano to show who has the tune.
Small and big. Play the Clementi sonatina, and then the first movement of a Beethoven sonata. Ask what is alike.
Print and play
Use a listening journal page for each sonata. Read Beethoven for kids and the piano for kids.
More from this guide
This article is part of Music theory for parents: what your child is learning and how to help.
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Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.