Musalea
Sign in

Sonata form

Exposition, development and recapitulation as a journey between key areas.

Category
Form and analysis
First taught in
7.2 Map a sonata exposition
Theory cards
  • Sonata form (Level 7)
  • Analysing a sonata movement (Level 10)
  • Explaining a rewritten return (Level 10)
  • Playing with the orchestra (Diploma)
  • Where the recapitulation diverges (Licentiate)
  • Weighing sonata arrivals (Fellowship and Concert)

In the lessons

13 lessons and 13 pieces where the Method teaches or uses it, in teaching order.

LessonLesson and piece
7.2Map a sonata expositionPiano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49 No. 2: I. Allegro ma non troppo, Ludwig van Beethoven
10.4Trace a whole sonata movementSonata in C major, K. 309: I. Allegro con spirito, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
10.8Shape the returning dancePiano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1: III. Menuetto: Allegretto, Ludwig van Beethoven
D.2Pace a complete three-movement sonataPiano Sonata No. 6 in F major, Op. 10 No. 2 — complete, Ludwig van Beethoven
D.11Keep clarity inside a compact modern sonata movementSonatine, M.40 — I. Modéré, Maurice Ravel
D.14Enter after the orchestraPiano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: I. Allegro con brio, Ludwig van Beethoven
L.2Connect recitative, motion and harmonic directionPiano Sonata No. 17 in D minor “Tempest”, Op. 31 No. 2: I. Largo – Allegro, Ludwig van Beethoven
L.6Join violently contrasting sound worldsBallade No. 2 in F major, Op. 38, Frédéric Chopin
L.14Enter after the tuttiPiano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11: I. Allegro maestoso, Frédéric Chopin
C.2Give a late-sonata movement structural weightPiano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111: I. Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato, Ludwig van Beethoven
C.3Pace a complete four-movement dramatic sonataPiano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35 — complete, Frédéric Chopin
C.6Preserve contrast across a complete late sonataPiano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58 — complete, Frédéric Chopin
C.11Carry a whole concerto from tutti to finalePiano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 — complete, Frédéric Chopin

In Musicianship

The units whose theory questions ask about it.

UnitTitle
7.2Sevenths in a progression
10.4Cadences that close a theme
C.2Octatonic phrases
Sonatina form
Sonata form in miniature: two themes, the second moving to the home key on return.
Modulation
Establishing a new home key, usually through a pivot chord and confirmed by a cadence.

In the app, the Theory library has the whole cards, with their questions, and a deep dive into this idea. The glossary from A to Z

Practise all 157 lessons at your piano

In Musalea each lesson runs step by step, and after every run the app tells you what to fix: the bar, the hand and how to practise it.

Sign in to download

14 practice days · everything unlocked · no card