sonata da chiesa

[ suh-nah-tuh duh kee-ey-zuh; Italian saw-nah-tah dah kye-zah ]

noun

1. an instrumental musical form, common in the Baroque period, that usually consists of four movements alternating between slow and fast.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sonata da chiesa¹

1795–1805; < Italian: literally, sonata of the church