One of the most important forms of classical music is without a doubt the sonata. The meaning of the term “sonata”, which is derived from the Italian word “sonare” which means “to sound” or “to play”, has changed considerably over time. Browse our sheet music and scores, grab your all your favourites, and find out more about the sonata here today!
The term “sonata” derives from the second half of the 16th century, and refers to different types of instrumental compositions for two or more instruments. The term came about to distinguish the sonata from solo pieces for keyboard instruments, and from pieces with singing, such as cantatas.
The main difference between the baroque sonata and the classical sonata is the number of movements, the baroque sonata has at least four or more, in which slow and fast tempos alternate regularly. The baroque sonata is divided into two basic types:
Sonata da camera (“Chamber Sonata”) – which has a light dance character and is the predecessor of the baroque dance suite.
Sonata da chiesa (“Church sonata”) – which is usually in four movements and has a more serious character.
Depending on the size of the line-up, Baroque sonatas can be further subdivided into Solo Sonata for one instrument (usually violin) and basso continuo, and Trio Sonata for two solo instruments and basso continuo.
One of the most well-known composers of the Baroque sonata is the Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713). Both the Church Sonatas by Corelli and the Chamber Sonatas by Corelli are still very popular with instrumentalists and listeners today.
At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the sonata da chiesa gradually evolved into what is known as the Neapolitan overture, where the introductory slow movement has been removed. The result was a three-movement form, with the tempo structure fast-slow-fast within each movement, which became the model not only for the classical sonata, but also for many other musical forms.
The Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) contributed a great deal to the development of the sonata. The Sonatas by Scarlatti were usually composed in the traditional sonata form, a one-movement work with two contrasting themes.
During the Classical period, the sonata continued to develop and evolve. At that time, the term “sonata” was mainly understood to mean Piano Sonatas, or sonatas for another solo instrument with piano accompaniment. In its basic form, a classical sonata consists of three, or occasionally four movements, where the first fast movement is written in ’sonata form’, the second movement is slower, and the third movement is usually fast again, and can take various forms.
In a four-movement sonata, a dance movement in the form of a minuet or a scherzo is usually inserted before the last movement. The greatest exponents of the sonata were arguably three composers of the first Viennese school, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart " 1972" text="Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven’s most famous sonata is without a doubt the Moonlight Sonata.
Edition Schott
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 741002
18 Probestücke zu dem Versuch "Über die wahre Art das Clavier zu spielen"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 754289
Edition Schott
for: Harp
Music score
Item no.: 736387
Edition Schott
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 723284
für Oboe (Violine, Flöte), Fagott (Violoncello, Viola da gamba) und Basso continuo
for: Oboe [violin/flute], bassoon [cello/viola da gamba], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 2670
aus der"Méthode de Clarinette"
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 1666
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte und Basso continuo (Violoncello ad libitum)
Music score
Item no.: 754376
per Flauto traverso e Basso
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 735559
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte, Violine und Basso continuo; Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 749652
for viola solo
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 731457
aus: „Sonate a Flauto Solo con Cembalo, o Violoncello, op. 3
Venezia, 1720
for: Flute [treble recorder/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 5454
aus: "Hora decima musicorum Lipsiensium, oder Musicalische Arbeit zum Ab-blasen um 10. Uhr Vormittage in Leipzig ..."
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), 3 trombones (quintet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4325
Edition Schott
for: 2 Violoncelli (Fagotte, Viole da gamba)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 754385
aus "Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba"
Frankfurt, 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5217
Schott Student Edition - Repertoire
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 738404
op. 6
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 727392
op. 13
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 752128
Edition Schott
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 748861
KV 263 für zwei Trompeten, zwei Violinen, Orgel und Bass
(Kirchensonate)
for: 2 trumpets (C), 2 violins, organ, cello [double bass/bassoon]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 5775
No. 2 A Major
for: 2 violins, cello, double bass
Score
Item no.: 752375
KV 330
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 4110
op. 9, Nr. 7
aus: Quatrième Livre de Sonates à Violon seul avec la Basse Continue
for: Violin [flute], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 3353
Edition Schott
for: Oboe
Music score
Item no.: 749585
for: Flöte und Cembalo (Klavier)
Music score
Item no.: 754427
aus: 6 Trios für Traversflöte, Violine und Bass
Amsterdam, o. J.
for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 6044
Edition Schott
for: Flöte (Violine), Violine und Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 747256
"A la Maresienne"
for: Violin [flute], basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749980
Edition Schott
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 754200
a Violino, o Flauto solo, e Basso
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2278
18 Probestücke zu dem "Versuch über die wahre Art das Clavier zu spielen"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 752166
for viola and piano
for: Viola, piano
Music score
Item no.: 746619
Schott Student Edition - Repertoire
for: Violoncello und Klavier (2. Violoncello)
Music score
Item no.: 743169
per trombetta sola et organo, ò gravicembalo
aus: Capricci armonici, op. 4
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 3367
Edition Schott
for: Clarinet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 753913
Piano Sonata C sharp minor. 1st movement
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 744180
Edition Schott
for: Cello, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 736916
aus: Sonates pour Violoncelle et Basse continue, op. 5
Paris, 1764
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6407
a Violino, o Flauto solo, e Basso
for: Violin [treble recorder/flute/oboe], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 2445
op. 2, Nr. 1
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1421
aus: Ricercari per Violoncello solo (1689)
for: Cello, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6421
aus: "Il quarto libro de varie sonate, sinfonie, gagliarde, corrente, e brandi"
Venedig, 1626
for: 2 violins [recorders/cornets], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4746
op. 18/5
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 732343
aus: 6 Sonate per il Flauto Traversiere, op. 1
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6456
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 732595
Edition Schott
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749367
Edition Schott
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749349
Edition Schott
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 736767
à Flauto Solo con Cimbalo o Vero Fagotto
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1001