sonata

American  

[suh-nah-tuh] / səˈnɑ tə /

noun

Music.

1. a composition for one or two instruments, typically in three or four movements in contrasted forms and keys.

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sonata British  

/ səˈnɑːtə /

noun

1. an instrumental composition, usually in three or more movements, for piano alone ( piano sonata ) or for any other instrument with or without piano accompaniment ( violin sonata , cello sonata , etc) See also sonata form symphony concerto

2. a one-movement keyboard composition of the baroque period

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sonata Cultural  

1. A musical composition for one or two instruments, usually in three or four movements. The sonata of the classic era in music had a definite arrangement for its movements: the first and fourth had a fast tempo, the second had a slow tempo, and the third was in either playful style (a “scherzo”) or in dance form (a “minuet”).

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Etymology

Origin of sonata

1685–95; < Italian < Latin sonāta, feminine of sonātus (past participle of sonāre to sound ¹ ). See sonant, -ate ¹

Compare meaning

How does sonata compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• sonata vs. concerto

Explanation

A sonata is a long piece of classical music that's usually made up of several parts. A sonata can be played by an orchestra or just one instrument, like a piano. If you're a classical music fan, you've probably heard sonatas played in concert halls or on recordings. Beethoven and Mozart famously composed sonatas for the piano, and modern composers continue to write sonatas for many different instruments. The Italian word sonata has come to mean "piece of instrumental music," although its literal translation is "sounded" or "played." This is in contrast to another Italian musical term, cantata, which means "sung," or "musical piece that is sung."

Example Sentences

“When Harry Met Sally” rings so true because there isn’t a single false note in its lovely sonata.

From Salon • Dec. 17, 2025

Brahms’ early sonata remains undistinguished except for a stunning rendition of the slow movement.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2025

His phrasing is sensitive, as in the romance at the center of the middle movement of Saint-Saëns’s late sonata; this take on that sonata’s finale is more easygoing and lyrical than some other accounts.

From New York Times • Jan. 25, 2024

Deutsch played a Schubert sonata portion between the Rellstab and Heine texts.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 27, 2023

Plenty of marches have been written that don't have a trio section, and the development section of a sonata movement can take unexpected turns.

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