The name Sonata comes from the Italian word sonare, meaning to sound. It can be referred to either the four movement works often seen from the Baroque time period to the present, or it can refer to the first movement of these musical compisitions, which are commonly in sonata form. Two distinct versions of the sonata can be seen, the Baroque Sonata, from 1660 to 1760 (during the lives of the composers Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and Freidrich Handel) and also the Classical time period, from 1760 to the present. This version of the sonata was established during the lives of Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven.

The first type of sonata was the Baroque sonata, which was seen in the time period of the great Baroque composers Johann Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and Freidrich Handel.¹ The Baroque Sonata itself was also divided into two variarations. The Sonata da Chiesa (the church sonata) and the sonata da camera (the chamber sonata). The chamber sonata had four movements, A slow movement followed by a fast movement, back to a slow, and then with a fast concluding movement. The church sonata had mostley dancelike movements that were similar to the suite.

The classical sonata came about roughly during the period between 1750-1830. It was brought about by the actions of the great composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn, during the early part of the classical period and was improved upon by the works of Ludwig Van Beethoven. The sonata of the classical period was divided into four movements. The first movement was usually called the Allegro, and was in sonata form² and is played fast and aggressive with the notes generally staccato³ and accented. The second movement of the classical sonata is often times called the Adagio. This movement is played slower then the first and is played lyrical, not agressive and staccato like the first, thus providing the contrast that was so important during the classical era. The third movement was called the minuet⁴ and this movement was in a triple meter, for instance 6/8 or the like⁵ and could be compared to a waltz. The fourth movement was also often times called the allegro and like the first movement was fast and aggressive and also in sonata form. This had the effect of providing the piece to have a dramatic and energetic conclusion.

A Great Example of the Classical Sonata

One of the best works that easily defines the classical sonata is Beethoven's third symphony, "Eroica". This symphony clearly defines the four movements of the sonata and shows the dramatic contrast involved during the classical period. Beethoven originally intended to dedicate this symphony to Napolean Bonaparte, but changed his mind when Napolean took over as Emperor.