Sonatinas

A sonatina is a musical term used for a short, lightened form of a sonata, usually written for keyboard. It originated in the late 18th century and designates pieces intended for teaching, practice, or light performance rather than large-scale works. While the term appears in various periods, the best-known sets come from the Classical and early Romantic eras.

Characteristics include a shorter duration, simpler textures, and tuneful melodies with less developmental complexity. Sonatinas are commonly in two movements, sometimes one; forms range from binary (A-B) to a simplified sonata form. The first movement is often lively and sonata-like in style, while a slower second movement may be a minuet, a theme-and-variations, or a lyrical aria-like piece. The piano is the primary instrument, though some pieces are suitable for other keyboard instruments.

Pedagogical role and examples: the term is closely tied to teaching repertoire. Clementi’s Op. 36 is the standard reference, a collection of six sonatinas widely used for early-level students. Friedrich Kuhlau also wrote frequently used sets of piano sonatinas. Across the period, composers used the label to indicate compact, accessible, sonata-like works rather than fully developed sonatas, making them common stepping stones in piano education.