[It., dim. of SONATA.] A short, simple form of sonata.
[1724. Short Explic. For. Wds. in Mus. Bks., 75. Suonatina, a Little, Short, Plain, or Easy Sonata.]
1801. Busby, Dict. Mus., Sonatina.… A short sonata.
1869. Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Oct., 12. Three sonatinas for the pianoforte by Herr Carl Reinecke … are piquant and interesting.
1883. Grove’s Dict. Music, III. 583/2. Sonatinas form one of the least satisfactory groups of musical products.
So Sonatine. [Cf. F. sonatine.]
1875. Ouseley, Musical Form, v. 38. In the overtures of Italian operas, and in the first movements of short easy sonatines.
