A sonata is a piece of classical music written either for a single instrument, or for one instrument and a piano.
sonata in British English
(səˈnɑːtə)
noun
1.
an instrumental composition, usually in three or more movements, for piano alone (piano sonata) or for any other instrument with or without piano accompaniment (violin sonata, cello sonata, etc)
See also sonata form, symphony (sense 1), concerto (sense 1)
2.
a one-movement keyboard composition of the baroque period
Word origin
C17: from Italian, from sonare to sound, from Latin
sonata in American English
(səˈnɑtə)
noun
a composition for one or two instruments, usually consisting of several movements:some modern sonatas have single movements
Word origin
It, lit., a sounding < L sonare, to sound1: orig., an instrumental composition as opposed to cantata, lit., something sung
Examples of 'sonata' in a sentence
sonata
The menu is varied with a meaty violin sonata.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He put a Beethoven violin sonata on the turntable.
John Cornwell Seminary Boy (2006)
The Sonata's second great virtue is its long list of standard kit.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The three sonatas are the creative backbone, each not so very much less challenging to the listener than to the player this one well in command!
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His string quartets and piano sonatas (particularly the enigmatic masterpieces of his final years) still rank as supreme tests of interpretation.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That was in the middle Sonata in A major.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Word lists with
sonata
Types of composition
In other languages
sonata
British English: sonata NOUN
A sonata is a piece of classical music written either for a single instrument, or for one instrument and a piano.