Sonata vs. Aria — What's the Difference?

Sonata (; Italian: [soˈnaːta], pl. sonate; from Latin and Italian: sonare [archaic Italian; replaced in the modern language by suonare], "to sound"), in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata (Latin and Italian cantare, "to sing"), a piece sung.

In music, an aria ([ˈaːrja]; Italian: air; plural: arie [ˈaːrje], or arias in common usage, diminutive form arietta [aˈrjetta], plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompaniment, normally part of a larger work. An aria is a formal musical composition unlike its counterpart, the recitative.

A composition for one or more solo instruments, one of which is usually a keyboard instrument, usually consisting of three or four independent movements varying in key, mood, and tempo.

A long accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.

(music) A musical composition for one or a few instruments, one of which is frequently a piano, in three or four movements that vary in key and tempo.

A solo vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment, as in an opera.

An extended composition for one or two instruments, consisting usually of three or four movements; as, Beethoven's sonatas for the piano, for the violin and piano, etc.

An air; a melody.

A musical composition of 3 or 4 movements of contrasting forms

(music) A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata.

An air or song; a melody; a tune.

An elaborate song for solo voice

An elaborate song for solo voice