sonata

C2 Topic:Music Theory

US /səˈnɑːtə/ UK /səˈnɑːtə/ See IPA manual

Freq #23804

Meanings

1

noun
a substantial musical composition for one instrument or a small group, usually arranged in several contrasting movements

The pianist performed a Beethoven sonata in three movements.
2

noun
historical: an instrumental composition, especially one contrasted with a cantata for voices

The program paired a seventeenth-century sonata with a sacred cantata.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a substantial musical... instrumental composition

2 noun · historical: an instrumental... instrumental piece

Word family

Forms sonatas

Derived forms sonatina

Related forms sonata formmovement symphony concerto cantata

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

sonata form
a musical structure organized around exposition, development, and recapitulation

Noun + noun

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian sonata, literally 'sounded' or 'played,' the feminine past participle of sonare, 'to sound,' from Latin sonare. The term originally distinguished music played on instruments from a cantata, music that was sung.

Topics

Music Theory Tools, Machines & Construction Register & Style

External links

# sonata

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /səˈnɑːtə/
**IPA (UK):** /səˈnɑːtə/
**Frequency rank:** 23804

## Meanings
1. a substantial musical composition for one instrument or a small group, usually arranged in several contrasting movements
2. historical: an instrumental composition, especially one contrasted with a cantata for voices

## Examples
- The pianist performed a Beethoven sonata in three movements.
- The program paired a seventeenth-century sonata with a sacred cantata.

## Synonyms
- instrumental composition
- instrumental piece

## Derived Forms
- sonatina

## Related Forms
- sonata form
- movement
- symphony
- concerto
- cantata

## Etymology
Borrowed from Italian sonata, literally 'sounded' or 'played,' the feminine past participle of sonare, 'to sound,' from Latin sonare. The term originally distinguished music played on instruments from a cantata, music that was sung.

## Topics
- Music Theory
- Tools, Machines & Construction
- Register & Style

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