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Music vocabulary · Melody, Form and Songwriting

Sonata form

Meaning in music, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In music, sonata form means: A large-scale form with an exposition presenting main material, a development exploring it, and a recapitulation bringing it back with tonal resolution.

In Turkish: sonat formu

How it is used

Used to analyse movements, not only pieces called sonatas. Analysts compare the keys and themes of the exposition and recapitulation.

Example sentences

  1. The first movement follows sonata form, although the whole work is a symphony.

    The form describes the movement's internal structure rather than the title of the work.

  2. Compare the second theme's key at its two appearances in this sonata form analysis.

    The comparison tracks how returning material contributes to tonal resolution.

Common collocations

  • sonata form movement
  • sonata form analysis
  • sonata form exposition
  • keyThe group of notes and chords that a piece is mainly built on, centred on one home note. A song in the key of G major keeps returning to G as its point of rest.
  • composeTo create an original piece of music, especially instrumental or classical music, film music or music written down in notation.
  • classical musicThe tradition of Western art music, including symphonies, concertos, operas and chamber music, usually written down in detailed scores and performed by trained musicians.

More terms: Melody, Form and Songwriting

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