sonata form

American  

noun

1. a musical form comprising an exposition, in which the main theme or themes are stated, a development section, a recapitulation of the material in the exposition, and, usually, a coda.

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sonata form British  

noun

1. a musical structure consisting of an expanded ternary form whose three sections (exposition, development, and recapitulation), followed by a coda, are characteristic of the first movement in a sonata, symphony, string quartet, concerto, etc

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Etymology

Origin of sonata form

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

“I sometimes argue in sonata form, sometimes in theme and variations,” said Mr. Wallace, who played with local groups and in an informal ensemble featuring Condoleezza Rice, a former secretary of state.

From Washington Post • Feb. 25, 2020

Composers of what is known, for better or worse, as classical music have broken over time with sonata form, tonality, serialism and minimalism.

From New York Times • Mar. 17, 2017

I understood Mendelssohn more readily than, say, Leonard Bernstein, who, teaching us sonata form on television, seemed human pretty much everywhere.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 28, 2015

Similarly, the power and ferocity of the Second Piano Sonata comes in part from the way the piece warps, destroys, reforms and rebuilds conventions such as sonata form and fugue.

From The Guardian • Jul. 16, 2012

If they have heard many symphonies, they also would not be at all surprised if the first movement is in sonata form and the third movement is based on a dance.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones