sory in the church"(Newman 486). Mostly those who simply loved to play, amateurs who entertained in their homes or other gatherings also played the sonata. The second important function of the sonata was a way for composers to become known. "Every musician who aspired to join the company of composers working for the public generally began his career with keyboard compositions, namely with solo sonatas"(Newman 487). The third important function was the sonata was used to teach musicians about the art of music. The sonata also played an important role in church music.
The first composers significant in the development of the sonata were Haydn and Mozart. Not much is known about Haydn's piano sonatas, although out of all his works the string quartets and piano sonatas stand apart from the others. Haydn's first works for the keyboard are " sonata like" and were intended for teaching use (Larson 336). After these he had fourteen sonatas, seven of which are unknown. For whom the sonatas were written is also unknown. They are not easy pieces to play and show little amounts of baroque concerto characteristics. Also, they exhibit "Haydn's originality and independence of fashion"(Larson 336).
Mozart, one of the sonata's first great composers, had short keyboard compositions, which dated back to his early childhood. These musical compositions are "somewhat mechanical in their textures (wi
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