29-08-2016, 09:01
I used to know all this stuff...
I know that "sonata form" is a well defined form for a musical composition, though I cannot now recall just what that form is. I do remember my piano teacher saying that many pieces that are not called sonatas are in fact in sonata form. This was considered important in the Classical period apparently.
As for the difference between sonata and sonatina, I always assumed that "sonatina" was just a short sonata, but maybe I'm wrong. It could be like trying to decide when a story is too long to be called a novella and becomes a novel.
I know that "sonata form" is a well defined form for a musical composition, though I cannot now recall just what that form is. I do remember my piano teacher saying that many pieces that are not called sonatas are in fact in sonata form. This was considered important in the Classical period apparently.
As for the difference between sonata and sonatina, I always assumed that "sonatina" was just a short sonata, but maybe I'm wrong. It could be like trying to decide when a story is too long to be called a novella and becomes a novel.