Date of Award
Spring 2026
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Department
School of Music
First Advisor
Mak Grgic
Abstract
This study reframes sonata-allegro form from the classical guitar’s perspective, addressing the piano-centered bias in existing literature. Its purpose is to provide guitarists with an instrument-specific way to study, analyze, and perform pieces that use sonata-allegro form by showing how the guitar’s range, sustain, polyphony, and timbre reshape the form. This study is organized into four chapters.
The primary objective of Chapter one is to provide an overview of the evolution of the sonata-allegro form, explaining its origins and development from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. Chapter two consists of an in-depth analysis of the selected pieces, examining the defining characteristics, both historical and theoretical, as they are presented in the chosen works. The seven chosen works are: Robert de Visée’s Allemande from his Suite in D minor, Lodovico Roncalli’s Allemande from his Suite in E Minor, Sylvius Leopold Weiss’s Allemande from his Sonata No.34, Mauro Giuliani’s Allegro Spirito from Sonata Op. 15, Manuel Ponce’s Allegro Moderato from Sonata Mexicana, Antonio José’s Allegro Moderato from Sonata para guitarra, and Leo Brouwer’s Fandangos Y Boleros from Sonata No.1. Each piece is analyzed to highlight essential elements of the sonata-allegro form, including form, harmony, melodic and rhythmic features, as well as historical implications as it relates to the classical guitar.
Chapter three compares these works to examine their similarities and differences, synthesizing findings from both historical and theoretical analyses to create a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of the sonata-allegro form through the lens of the classical guitar, thereby enhancing the overall understanding of how the form has developed and how the guitar has evolved.
Chapter four presents the study’s conclusions and implications. It summarizes key insights and suggests directions for further research. The chapter closes with reflections on the form’s relevance to performers, teachers, scholars, and composers.
Rights
© 2026, James Treadwell West Jr.
Recommended Citation
West, J. T.(2026). The Development of Sonata-Allegro Form Through The Lens of Classical Guitar. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/8827