Chapter 10: Multimovement Forms
The term sonata is often used to identify a multimovement composition for orchestra, a chamber group, or solo instrument. Prior to Beethoven, most classical period sonatas consisted of three movements, often with tempos that were generally fast-slow-fast. In the Romantic period this arrangement evolved to four movements, with a minuet or composite part form added between the slow movement and the finale, creating a fast-slow-minuet-fast order. As the number and type of movements evolved, so did the microtonal plans for key relationships between movements, resulting in more contrast. Also, cyclical designs with principal themes recurring in more than one movement became increasingly common. Berlioz, with his idee fixe, and Wagner’s Leitmotiv are further adaptations of this concept.