Meaning of sonatine in musicAccording to the sources, "sonatina" refers to a smaller or simpler sonata, usually composed for beginner or student piano players. A sonatina typically has 2-3 movements:
1) The first movement is in sonata form, meaning it has an exposition with primary and secondary themes, a development section, and a recapitulation.
2) The second movement is usually slower.
3) The third movement is often fast and could be in a variety of forms like rondo or theme and variations.
So in summary , a "sonatine" or sonatina is simply a sonata that is more accessible to students, shorter in length, and less complex structurally. The name sonatina indicates it should be an easier composition compared to a full sonata.
The French and German term for sonatina.
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