SYMPHONY: a work for orchestra in sonata form
SONATA: a work for piano and perhaps one other instrument, usually in sonata form, of course
SONATA FORM: a four-movement composition whose substantial first
movement is usually in sonata-allegro form
and whose two middle
movements usually include a slow movement and a minuet or scherzo
SONATA-ALLEGRO form: the Classical model for a large-scale instrumental movement, consisting of an exposition, a development, and a recapitulation
EXPOSITION: the opening section of a sonata-allegro movement, in which several themes are stated
DEVELOPMENT: the middle section of a sonata-allegro movement, in which the themes from the exposition are creatively transformed
RECAPITULATION: the closing section of a sonata-allegro movement, in which the themes return to their original guises
TERNARY: in a three-part form ABA, where the last section is like the first
MINUET: a courtly dance in triple meter, which in sonata form is followed by a contrasting trio, after which the minuet is repeated [SG]
TRIO: the middle, contrasting section of the minuet movement in a sonata form; also, any work for three performers
SCHERZO: a faster, more humorous version of the minuet
THEME AND VARIATIONS: a movement in which the opening theme is repeated with one elegant decoration after another: AA'A''A'''...
RONDO: a movement in which the opening theme recurs over and over unchanged, alternating with contrasting episodes: ABACADA...
RETROGRADE: the reversal of a melody, played last note first