Answer:
(D) A piece for solo instrument or a small group of instruments.
Explanation:
The word sonata comes from the Latin Sonare, which means "to sound." Until the Baroque period (Between 1600 to 1750) the music known by the name Sonata lived up to its origin. It was an instrumental song.
In the Baroque period, the sonatas were composed to be played by one or two violins, accompanied by a continuous solo. Since the continuous bass is usually composed of at least two instruments, (typically a cello or a guitar) and a keyboard instrument, such as the harpsichord, the baroque sonatas were almost always performed by at least four musicians.
That is, the baroque sonata was a solo instrument piece or a small group of instruments.
