The opening movement of the sonata cycle, consisting of themes that are stated in the first section ( exposition), developed in the second section ( development), and restated in the third section ( recapitulation). Also sonata form or first-movement form. In this example, the first theme (of two principal themes), an exuberant dance tune in D minor, is stated in the exposition, after which the music makes a transition to a new key (F major, in preparation for the second theme). Example: Haydn, String Quartet, Op. 76, No. 2, fourth movement Real Audio: 28K | 56K | About this album