ETYM Italian, from Italian and Latin sonare to sound. Related to Sound a noise.
Instrumental composition in three or more movements.
In music, an essay in instrumental composition for a solo player or a small ensemble and consisting of a single movement or series of movements. The name signifies that the work is not beholden to a text or existing dance form, but is self-sufficient.
A musical composition of 3 or 4 movements of contrasting forms.