log insign up- A composition for an instrumental soloist or a small ensemble, typically consisting of three or four contrasting movements.
The pianist's performance of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata left the audience in awe.
Start tacking to remember the definition of "sonata" the next time you hear it or read it.
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The word ‘sonata‘ comes from the Italian word ‘sonare,‘ which means ‘to sound.‘ In its original meaning, it referred to a piece of music for one or more instruments that was intended to be played rather than sung. The term ‘sonata‘ was first used in the 17th century to describe instrumental pieces that had three or four movements and were performed by a solo instrument accompanied by a basso continuo, but it has since been extended to cover a wide variety of works for different instruments and ensembles.