Unit 5: Sonata

Question 1

The solo sonata was developed by _ earlier in the

Answer 1

Domenico Scarlatti, 18th century

Question 2

Sonata background and origins

Answer 2

• sonata from Italian sonare (to sound)
• originally designated instrumental works as opposed to vocal works
• Baroque era: sonata referenced solo or chamber works
• Baroque keyboard sonata: single-movement, binary/rounded binary form
• Classical era: sonata cycle applied to solo sonata, multi-mvt keyboard sonata emerged

Question 3

Sonata characteristic features

Answer 3

• 3 or 4 mvts
• 1st mvt typically sonata form
• 2nd mvt (slow) possibly sonata/rondo/theme and var
• 3rd mvt (menuet and trio) included some cases
• final mvt typically sonata/rondo/sonata-rondo form
• outer mvt: usually technical brilliance
• slow mvt: lyricism

Question 4

sonata

Answer 4

• from Italian sonare, to sound
• instrumental genre for 1 or 2 instruments
• generally several contrasting mvts
• Classical era: at least 1 mvt was sonata form

Question 5

rondo form

Answer 5

• formal structure
• opening section returns 2 or more times, separated by contrasting sections
• ABACA or ABACABA (or variants thereof)
• Section A at least 3 times in tonic key
• Sections B and C contrast in key and thematic material