Mauro Giuliani was a guitarist from Italy who associated himself with an elite inner circle of musicians and composers including Rossini and Paganini. Giuliani is now known by some as the “rock star” of late 18th and early 19th century classical guitars. Giuliani chose to compose in the style of his well-known friends, and in the style of Classical era greats like Mozart and Haydn. Giuliani’s Sonata in C major, op.15 is a fitting example of a classical era sonata in form and style. The main objective of this document is to explore the ways in which the instrumental Classical era sonata informs style, form, and performance practice in Giuliani’s Sonata in C major, opus.15. By analyzing the music of Classical era composers, we can uncover a direct musical link between piano and violin sonatas and Giuliani’s Sonata in C Major,...