Sonata Form

Classical structure of exposition, development, and recapitulation governing symphonic first movements.

Core Principles & Analysis

• The exposition presents contrasting themes in the tonic and a secondary key, usually the dominant.
• Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven made it the standard design for first movements of symphonies and sonatas.
• The recapitulation resolves harmonic tension by restating the second theme in the home key.