sonata

In music, an important type of instrumental composition. Although it can be a piece for a solo player or a small ensemble, it is now commonly used to describe a work for solo piano (piano sonata), or piano and one other instrument (violin sonata – violin and piano; flute sonata – flute and piano). It usually consists of three or four contrasting movements with one or more being in sonata form. The name means that the work is not beholden to a text or existing dance form, but is self-sufficient.