Does anyone know what a typical sonata form would be? I am composing a sonata for viola and piano, and would like it to be in no more than three movements. Any help would be great.

when I was looking for guidance on sonata form I came across this link

http://library.thinkquest.org/22673/forms1.html

hope it helps!

Usually a sonata consists of "four movements or fewer, though there are exceptions (Brahms's Piano Sonata no. 3 in F Minor is in five movements, for example). The first movement is often in sonata-allegro form. The second is a slow, songlike movement. The third is a Minuet or Scherzo, and the finale is a Rondo. A set of variations may be incorporated into the plan."

If you want to go three movements, then I guess it would be considered a sonatina, which is "a short sonata, usually in three movements, without elaborate development in the first movement."

Both definitions were quoted from The Essential Canon of Classical Music by David Dubal.