How did Arcangelo Corelli help establish the four-movement pattern of the sonata da chiesa?

Arcangelo Corelli was a pivotal figure in the development of the sonata da chiesa, or church sonata, during the late 17th century. While earlier composers had experimented with sectional instrumental forms, Corelli’s published sonatas helped clarify and stabilize the genre's structure, instrumentation, and style.1

Corelli helped establish the characteristic four-movement pattern of the sonata da chiesa, which typically follows a slow–fast–slow–fast sequence. In this arrangement:1

• The first fast movement often features a loosely fugal style, reflecting the sonata’s historical roots in the fantasia and canzona.1
• The final movement is generally lighter and simpler, occasionally incorporating elements of the dance styles more commonly associated with the sonata da camera (chamber sonata).1

Beyond this formal structure, Corelli’s work was instrumental in standardizing the use of the basso continuo and solidifying the trio sonata as the primary chamber music form of the era. His influence was so significant that he is widely credited with defining the trajectory of the sonata during the Baroque period.12