What is Sonata form?
Statement, departure, return
I found in my years of teaching music listening that my students, particularly the younger ones, perceived classical music as an endless stream of unrelated notes. They were often surprised to discover that the form of the music was such an important factor and how much subtle repetition there was.
In fact, form is so important in classical music that some forms are used over and over and have recognizable names. Sonata form is one of these. This is, confusingly, not the same as a “sonata,” although sonatas often use sonata form in one or more of their movements. A “sonata” is a piece of music that usually has two to four movements, written for one or more chamber instruments. A movement is kind of like a chapter in a book or an act in a play. Often times, the first movement is in sonata form (sometimes called sonata allegro form).
Composers love the sonata form and often used it from about 1750 on even to today. It is ingenious and amazingly satisfying. If you understand some basics about sonata form you can enhance your enjoyment of listening to classical music, because so many pieces use the form.
If has three basic parts: Exposition, Development, and Recapitulation. Exposition is when the basic themes of the movement are presented, kind of like the first part of a play or movie in which we meet the main characters and start to understand the conflict. In music, the main characters are themes and the conflict is in the keys and moods. In the exposition, we often hear two main themes in two different keys. The key of the movement is “exposed” and then seemingly abandoned.
The Development part of the movement takes fragments of the main themes and tosses them around in a variety of different keys. This creates even more tension and expectation.
The Recapitulation returns to the themes in the Exposition, except now we hear them in the original key, established by the first theme.
This form is wonderfully satisfying, even if we don’t understand all about keys and techniques. Mozart’s Symphony Number 40, First movement is a great example. Find it here (8 minutes).
Exposition: First theme in G Minor (0:00 through 0:53); Second theme in Bb Major (0:53 through 2:04). Then the whole exposition is repeated, note for note. So the exposition starts in minor and then ends in a related major key. We expect the original minor key to return. But…
Development: Fragments of the themes in a variety of keys (4:07 through 5:25). While we hear little hints and fragments of the two themes, we can feel the tension building until the end of the Development. When will we hear the themes again in their entirety?
Recapitulation: Ah! Now at last we hear the original themes! (5:26 through 8:10) Except now both themes are in the original key of G Minor. Conflict resolved.
To really get the hang of sonata form, listen to other pieces that use it. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, First movement (8 minutes) is a wonderful example, as is the first movement of his Sonata in F Minor, Opus 2, number 1 (3 minutes), or Haydn’s Violin Concerto Number 4, first movement (9 1/2 minutes).
In all cases, sonata form follows the basic idea of statement, departure, and return, which we find so delightful, whether in drama, cinema, or literature.
