sonata
noun
so·na·ta
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Definition of sonata
: an instrumental musical composition typically of three or four movements in contrasting forms and keys
Examples of sonata in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Grammy-winning cellist Zuill Bailey will perform Beethoven’s cello sonatas on Sept. 22. — Donna Freedman, Anchorage Daily News, "Here’s a look at the big shows coming to Anchorage this fall and winter," 5 Sep. 2019 The festival program is dotted with Enescu: a violin sonata, a piano quintet, Œdipe (his sole opera), etc. — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, "Mozart & Co.," 30 Aug. 2019 His buildings have a moving simplicity, the restraint and humility of a Mozart sonata. — oregonlive.com, "Celebrating architect Pietro Belluschi’s 120th anniversary: You’re invited to walking tours, talks this weekend," 16 Aug. 2019 Over two years’ time and over four continents, Romero will be playing all 32 piano sonatas by his favorite composer. — Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, "11 things to do this weekend in San Diego: Bayside Summer Nights, Switchfoot Bro-Am, ‘Legendary Drag Queens of San Diego’," 28 June 2019 The festival program is dotted with Enescu: a violin sonata, a piano quintet, Œdipe (his sole opera), etc. — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, "Mozart & Co. at the Salzburg Festival," 22 Aug. 2019 Even five years earlier, in one of his finest piano sonatas, Op. — Tim Page, Washington Post, "Beethoven: The genius who broke all the rules," 16 Aug. 2019 His buildings have a moving simplicity, the restraint and humility of a Mozart sonata. — oregonlive.com, "Celebrating architect Pietro Belluschi’s 120th anniversary: You’re invited to walking tours, talks this weekend," 16 Aug. 2019 Similarly expressive were the singing tones of Jaap ter Linden’s viola da gamba on a sonata by J.S. Bach’s son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. — Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, "Review: Early Music Festival brings fresh energy to old sounds," 2 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sonata.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for sonata
sonata
noun
English Language Learners Definition of sonata
music
: a piece of music written for one or two instruments that has usually three or four large sections that are different from each other in rhythm and mood
See the full definition for sonata in the English Language Learners Dictionary
sonata
noun
so·na·ta
| \ sə-ˈnä-tə
\
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Kids Definition of sonata
: a musical composition for one or two instruments consisting of three or four separate sections in different forms and keys
Sonata
trademark
So·na·ta
| \ sō-ˈnä-tə
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Medical Definition of Sonata
—used for a preparation of zaleplon
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