a musical structure consisting of an expanded ternary form whose three sections (exposition, development, and recapitulation), followed by a coda, are characteristic of the first movement in a sonata, symphony, string quartet, concerto, etc
sonata form in American English
a type of musical composition, often serving as the first movement of a sonata or symphony, consisting of an exposition whichcontrasts two distinct keys, followed by a development of the exposition, and a recapitulation which returns to the original key or tonality