Whats the difference between a concerto and a sonata?

Question

Whats the difference between a concerto and a sonata?

Answer 1

This is the generell difference:

A sonata is a work for a solo instrument or for a solo instrument with accompaniment (e.g. violin plus piano, flute + piano...).

A concerto is an orchestral work (no matter whether it's for full orchestra or string orchestra), e.g. Bela Bartok's "Concerto for Orchestra", often with a dominant solo instrument (piano concerto, violin concerto...).

I hope this will help you, bye for now, Andreas

Answer 2

"1. concerto, a composition for solo instrument(s) with orchestral accompaniments

2. sonata, an instrumental composition: a composition usually of three or more movements designed chiefly for a solo instrument [It.__L. sonare, to sound]"