Sonata, as an Italian word, means “Sounded (musical instrument)”. Sonata was once used to emphasize the distinction between the Instrumental version of a piece of music and the verbal version in the form of a song. In the early 17th two distinct types of sonatas existed: “Church sonatas”, performed in the churches, usually in four movements, two of which were slower and “chamber sonatas” which were usually dance suites. Today, in general, Sonata is composed for one or two instruments; while other forms simultaneously exist, the examples of which are some solo sonatas written for two instruments, first for the soloist, the second for the continuo as an accompaniment. Trio sonatas also exist, for two soloists and one continuo.
Since the early 18th three movement sonatas began to become popular. The innovator of this style was Carl Philip Emanuel Bach. The invention which was retained all during the classic era. Duo sonatas for keyboard (piano afterwards) and violin were composed and this manner became the popular style in sonata composition. Solo piano sonatas and duo sonatas with piano accompaniment are nowadays the standard sonata composition form.
Since Bach, the first movement of the sonatas are composed in allegro tempo and in sonata form. By sonata form I mean a standard form, itself composed of different sections. The first section is the introduction, with slower pace in comparison to the others to the other sections. Next is the exposition, containing the main theme and material of the movement, including one or two contrasting themes usually in opposed keys. The main section proceeds to the development section where we have variations of the main theme and explorations of the harmonic and textural possibilities of the movement are introduced. By a transition we proceed to the final section, the conclusion, in which the main theme exists in the tonic key. The next movement of the sonata is written is a slower pace and the last is usually a minuet, scherzo or variations of the main theme.
Glorious and tremendous samples of the sonatas are among the masterpieces of Chopin and Beethoven. In here, you can listen to a sonata of Chopin (No.1 by Vladimir Ashkenazy) and a violin – piano sonata of Beethoven (no 4 “spring” by Ashkenazy and Itzhak Perlman) .