The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development

This compact study opens with a clear picture of how the early “sonata” emerged as an instrumental counterpart to vocal music, tracing its roots from late‑Renaissance experiments to the first printed keyboard works of the 1690s. By explaining the shifting meanings of terms like sonata and canzona, the author sets a solid groundwork for understanding why the piano‑sonata form evolved the way it did, while also giving listeners a glimpse of the broader musical landscape that shaped those early pieces.

The narrative then moves through a series of concise chapters, each devoted to a key figure or era—Kuhnau, Pasquini, Bach, Hay‑dn, Mozart, Beethoven, and the later Romantics—highlighting how their works expanded the genre’s structure, expression, and technical demands. Interwoven with anecdotes about instrument makers and historical events, the book offers an accessible yet scholarly tour of the piano sonata’s development, making it an engaging companion for anyone curious about the music they hear on the airwaves.