Questions on structure of a sonata

Hey guys, I've been doing some research lately on sonata writing for the piano since I thought I might compose something completely different to what I generally compose. Anywho, so far, I've read that a sonata (sonata-allegro) would contain 3 movements (fast, slow, fast) and that sometimes they have an introduction. In the first movement, the movement generally consists of:

- Exposition

- Development

- Recapitulation

The question I wanted to ask is, do the 2nd and 3rd movements follow this form too? and if not, how do I go about composing the 2nd and 3rd movements of the sonata?

Hey guys, I've been doing some research lately on sonata writing for the piano since I thought I might compose something completely different to what I generally compose. Anywho, so far, I've read that a sonata (sonata-allegro) would contain 3 movements (fast, slow, fast) and that sometimes they have an introduction. In the first movement, the movement generally consists of:

- Exposition

- Development

- Recapitulation

The question I wanted to ask is, do the 2nd and 3rd movements follow this form too? and if not, how do I go about composing the 2nd and 3rd movements of the sonata?

Well there's a lot more to sonata form than just that, but in any case, the forms of the other two movements can really be whatever you want and doesn't have to conform the Fast, Slow, Fast model. This was more typical of the types of sonatas composed in the 18th and 19th centuries, and even then there was a plethora of options for a sonata. Typical forms for other movements include Theme and Variations form, Rondo form, Sonata-Rondo form, etc. You should take a look at some sonatas if even just to see how different composers utilize different forms. I would start off looking at some Mozart and Haydn and then work your way to Beethoven and beyond! Some suggestions I have for you are Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 5, No. 11, and No. 16, and Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 8 and No. 15. These will definitely give you a good idea of the different forms that composers have used, and in the case of the Beethoven, the interesting ways they incorporate the forms. You don't really have to conform to these models though since these days there's not really a list of standards for composing a sonata, but they're a good starting point.

Well, I don't know where geektar90 came from, but the user makes some good points! Welcome to the forum, both of you.

The sonata is a broad genre of instrumental music that originated during the Baroque. Early sonatas were usually in one movement with contrasting sections, while later ones were often multi-movement works. From what I understand, movements became standardized in two types of sonatas during the Baroque: the sonata da camera was similar to a dance suite, while the sonata da chiesa (sacred sonata) was in four movements (slow, fast, slow, fast). The fast-slow-fast movement model, as geektar90 explained, came later.

Now, sonata-allegro (also "sonata form" or "sonata principle"), which was an idea that took hold by about 1740, refers to the form of the first movement only (it's sometimes called "first movement form" because of that). The remaining movements do not need to follow any particular form, especially today. You can do anything you want! But if you want to adhere to the sonata principle (again, another broad term) for the first movement then there's more to consider than simply exposition, development, and recap.

I would suggest to anybody who is not yet familiar with Sonata as a cycle of movements to use the classical structure first. So a exposition-development-repetition form in the first movement, a triple form in second (ABA) and a sonata or rondo form in third. You should also study sonatas from every period from classical to modern and find a suitable form for your own compositions in the future. Good luck!

Wow... Thanks guys :D I'm suprised in the amount of information you guys have given me :o I wasn't expecting that much but wow... Thanks again :D And yea, I've been analysing on Beethoven's Sonata's especially his Pathetique and Tempest Sonatas.