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.
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.: 6109
aus: "Modo per imperare a sonare di Tromba", Frankfurt 1638
for: Trumpet (C), basso continuo [organ]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4195
Edition Schott
for: Flöte und obligates Cembalo (Klavier)
Music score
Item no.: 749341
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 1200
Nach dem Urtext
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748913
Edition Schott
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 742532
Op. 1 № 13, HWV 371
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6378
Edition Schott
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 740001
aus der Kantate "Himmelskönig, sei willkommen", BWV 182
bearbeitet für zwei Blockflöten und Orgel (Klavier)
for: 2 recorders (SA), organ [piano]
Score, part (pdf download)
Item no.: 2208
aus: Six Sonates Pour deux Flutes-traversieres sans Basse, op. 1
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 2855
aus "Operum Musicorum Posthumorum, Pars Prima"
Nürnberg, 1643
for: 2 violins [cornetts], viola da gamba [trombone], basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4859
op. 22
for: Guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 1127
HWV 360
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 1511
No. 1 F Major and No. 4 G Minor
for: Cello, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 737043
op. 12/1
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 723869
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 725080
B minor
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 726051
Nach dem Urtext
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 731317
for: Cello, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 732125
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 739604
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte und Basso Continuo (Klavier), Violoncello oder Viola da gamba ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 729699
nach dem Urtext
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748953
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 738181
Edition Schott
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 730702
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723144
aus: XII Solo for the German Flute with the Thorough Bass for the Harpsichord
London, 1744
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts, audio files
Item no.: 6185
Nach dem Urtext
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 754112
Mozart / Haydn / J.Chr. Bach / Häßler / Wolf
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 756814
aus: "Six Sonatas of two Parts made on purpose for two German Flutes"
for: 2 flutes [oboes/violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 4864
No. 1-2
for: 2 treble recorders [flutes]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 744340
Edition Schott
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749983
op. 2/4
for: Streichorchester und Cembalo
Score
Item no.: 754384
(1762)
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 4434
From the Time of Frederick II
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 756762
BWV 1033
für Flöte und Basso continuo
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 2004
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 734244
from: 10 easy Sonatas
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 751037
Edition Schott
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 734027
Edition Schott
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 736484
op. 138/2
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 761594
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 726363
Allegro, Rondo grazioso
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 731709
TWV 40:120
für zwei Flöten oder Violinen
for: 2 flutes [violins]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 2142
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte, Violine, Oboe) und Basso continuo; Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 732950
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 726362
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 740591
"Fantasy"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748908
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 726361